Seoul, May 9 (EFE).- North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un said in a message to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on the 81st anniversary of Victory Day on May 9 that he gave «top priority» to the partnership with Russia amid the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.
In the message, published on Saturday by state-run news agency KCNA, Kim reaffirmed Pyongyang’s stance of giving «top priority» to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, signed in 2024, which includes mutual assistance in case of aggression.
«I affirm once again that we will always be responsible for the implementation of the obligations of the inter-state treaty between the DPRK (North Korea’s official name) and Russia,» he added.
Following the signing of the pact, North Korea has deployed around 15,000 troops to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine, while South Korean intelligence estimates that about 6,000 of them have been killed or wounded in combat.
Russia will hold its traditional parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II without displaying weapons for the first time in nearly 20 years amid fears of a Ukrainian attack, despite a ceasefire agreed with Kyiv between May 9 and 11. EFE
rvb/pd
