North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared “full support” for Moscow ahead of Friday’s high-stakes meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US counterpart Donald Trump in Alaska.
State media reported on Wednesday, 13 August, that during a rare Tuesday phone call, Kim affirmed Pyongyang would “remain faithful to the spirit” of the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty and “fully support all measures to be taken by the Russian leadership in the future.”
The conversation, disclosed by both nations, underscores deepening military coordination between Moscow and Pyongyang amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
The call emphasised reinforcement of the June 2024 defence pact, which mandates mutual military assistance if either nation faces attack. Putin specifically “highly appreciated” North Korea’s deployment of approximately troops to support Russia’s operation to dislodge Ukrainian soldiers from the Kursk region.
Kim’s pledge arrives as Russian forces intensify offensives in eastern Ukraine, with analysts suggesting the timing aims to strengthen Putin’s negotiating position days before the Alaska summit. The Kremlin confirmed Putin briefed Kim on summit preparations.
Friday’s Anchorage meeting marks the first face-to-face discussion between sitting US and Russian leaders since the 2021 Geneva summit. While Trump frames the encounter as a “listening exercise” to explore Ukraine ceasefire options, the exclusion of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has drawn criticism.
The White House confirmed Trump will hold separate virtual talks with Zelensky and European leaders Wednesday, though Ukraine fears potential territorial concessions might be negotiated without its participation.
