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Orange Wang

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to continue helping Moscow in “any way” in its war with Ukraine during talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Beijing on Wednesday.
That meeting came only hours after US President Donald Trump took aim at both leaders in a social media post.
The summit between the two neighbours – the first in more than a year – revealed that it was Kim who took the initiative in sending military aid to Russia for its campaign in the western Russian region of Kursk. It also signalled the possibility of further deployments.
“As I already mentioned during our previous meeting, if there is any way that we can help and support Russia, we will always do that. We will consider it our brotherly duty,” Kim told Putin during his opening remarks at the meeting.
“We have cooperation ongoing in every sector.”
The talks took place on the sidelines of a massive Chinese military parade in Tiananmen Square, marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.


Video released by the Kremlin showed the two leaders leaving the ceremonial reception at the Great Hall of the People early in the afternoon and travelling together in a Russian Aurus luxury car to the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing.
Putin also confirmed that under Kim’s “initiative”, North Korean special units took part in the battle of the Kursk region, which was “in full accordance” with the security and defence treaty between the two countries signed last year.
“I want to note that your soldiers fought bravely and heroically. I want to emphasise that we will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen,” he told Kim during his opening remarks.
After their meeting concluded, the Russian leader walked Kim to his car and invited him to visit Russia, according to a report by the Russian news agency Tass.
“See you soon,” the North Korean leader said, addressing Putin through an interpreter. “Yes, we are waiting for you,” Putin replied. “Do come.”
Bonds between North Korea and Russia have grown rapidly since 2023, as Moscow faces an increasingly hostile international environment – particularly sanctions from the US and its Western allies over Ukraine – in addition to its tense battleground situation.

Meanwhile, Pyongyang’s nuclear programme has long been under international sanctions and is a source of soured relations with Washington.
The last face-to-face meeting between Putin and Kim took place in June last year, when the Russian leader visited North Korea.
At that time, the two countries signed a treaty that included a mutual defence clause, effectively marking a military alliance between them.
Both Pyongyang and Moscow formally confirmed in April this year that North Korea had deployed troops to Russia’s Kursk region.
On Friday, Kim visited the families of North Korean soldiers killed fighting for Russia, nine days after meeting combatants who returned from the fight with Ukraine.

When hosting Vyacheslav Volodin, chairman of the Russian parliament’s lower house, last month, Kim said North Korea-Russia relations had “reached a new height”
The Putin-Kim meeting this week came after a high-stakes summit between the Russian leader and Trump in Alaska last month that was aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
Russia has continued its attacks on its neighbour despite the talks with the US. There is no sign of a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the near future, talks that Trump has repeatedly pushed for.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in an interview with Fox News that aired on Monday that “all options are on the table” as the Trump administration considered further sanctions on Russia.
A day later, Zelensky said: “These days in China, Putin keeps spinning his tales – as if he is not responsible for the war.”
Three days before the US-Russia summit, Putin spoke with Kim by phone and “shared information” about the coming negotiations with Trump, according to the Kremlin.
During that call, Kim said that Pyongyang would fully support all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future, North Korea’s KCNA news agency reported.
One of the parade’s most notable moments came when Chinese President Xi Jinping walked down a red carpet to the rostrum flanked by Putin and Kim. The men were seen smiling and chatting.
The military display was widely viewed as Beijing’s demonstration of its strength as it tries to reshape the international political landscape amid an increasingly tense strategic rivalry with Washington.
Shortly after the parade began, Trump publicly singled out Putin and Kim.
“Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” Trump posted on his social media platform.
Following 90 minutes of talks that included their delegations, Putin and Kim also had a one-on-one conversation that lasted for another hour, according to Tass.


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Ukraine war

Kim-Putin talks: North Korea pledges help in ‘any way’ for Russia’s war in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin (second right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un leave a reception following a military parade to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre left) and Russian President Vladimir Putin met at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse on Wednesday. Photo: EPA/Sputnik/Kremlin Pool

Russian President Vladimir Putin (centre right) and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attend a meeting in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo: Sputnik/Pool via Reuters

Xi Jinping hails China-Russia ties for withstanding test of geopolitical uncertainties

Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of their meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. Photo: Pool via Reuters

The two sides meet at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: Pool via AP

China’s Xi pushes SCO bank as Putin deflects Ukraine blame – as it happened

Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre) with other leaders and SCO summit participants in Tianjin on Monday. Photo: AFP

Russia’s Vladimir Putin vows to deepen China ties, slams ‘distortion’ of WWII history

Russian President Vladimir Putin and visiting Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the Kremlin on May 9, on the occasion of Russia’s Victory Day celebrations. Photo: Reuters

Putin, Kim, Xi at military parade, Modi in China

Photo: Reuters

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China

Diplomacy

Meeting between two leaders in Beijing reveals Kim offered to send military aid for Russia’s Kursk campaign


Meeting between two leaders in Beijing reveals Kim offered to send military aid for Russia’s Kursk campaign.


Kim-Putin talks: North Korea pledges help in ‘any way’ for Russia’s war in Ukraine

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Meeting between two leaders in Beijing reveals Kim offered to send military aid for Russia’s Kursk campaign

Meeting between two leaders in Beijing reveals Kim offered to send military aid for Russia’s Kursk campaign