Putin thanks North Korea for support in Ukraine war

Russian President Vladimir Putin met North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui on Sunday and thanked North Korea for supporting Moscow's war in Ukraine. In a video released by the Kremlin, Putin said he was grateful for the support given to what Russia calls its special military operation. He said Russia would not forget the actions of North Korean soldiers and that they would be honoured in the same way as Russian citizens. Putin also praised what he described as mutual understanding with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Russia's foreign ministry said Choe was visiting at the invitation of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened ties since Russia launched its full-scale offensive against Ukraine in 2022. North Korea has sent troops to Russia's Kursk region and supplied weapons systems to support Moscow's war effort. Analysts say North Korea has received financial aid, food, energy supplies and military technology from Moscow in return. During a visit by senior Russian officials to Pyongyang in late April, Kim reaffirmed support for Russia and pledged to help Moscow achieve victory in what he called its sacred war.