North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov on November 29, expressing unwavering support for Russia’s efforts to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against “imperialist hegemony.”
The state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on November 30 that Kim and Belousov held a “friendly and trustful conversation” during the Russian military delegation’s visit to North Korea.
Kim criticized recent U.S. actions against Russia, calling them “irresponsible measures that prolong conflicts and threaten global humanity,” and stated they deserve condemnation from the international community. He further accused the U.S. and Western nations of direct military intervention by enabling Kyiv to attack Russian territory with long-range weapons.
Kim described Russia’s decisive actions to counter hostile forces as a legitimate exercise of its right to self-defense. His remarks were seen as a direct endorsement of Russia’s recent launch of the “Oreshnik” hypersonic medium-range ballistic missile at Ukraine, following the West’s provision of U.S.-made ATACMS and UK’s Storm Shadow missiles to Kyiv.
Kim emphasized that “provocative forces led by the United States will gain nothing by ignoring Russia’s warnings” and called for clear signals to demonstrate the consequences of such disregard.
KCNA also reported that Kim and Belousov discussed a wide range of issues, including defense cooperation, the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership, safeguarding sovereignty and security interests, and upholding international justice. The talks reportedly resulted in “satisfactory consensus.”
Kim reaffirmed his commitment to expanding North Korea-Russia relations across political, economic, and military domains, following agreements reached during a bilateral summit in June.
Although KCNA did not explicitly mention troop deployments, analysts speculate that discussions during Belousov’s visit may have included potential additional military and logistical support from North Korea to Russia, in exchange for reciprocal benefits. These speculations arise from Kim’s statements on North Korea’s military support for Russia’s territorial policies and the focus on strengthening military ties between the two nations.
BY YOUNGNAM KIM [kim.youngnam@koreadaily.com]
