North Korea confirms that it has sent forces to fight for Russia

North Korea confirmed for the first time that it had sent the forces to fight for Russia against Ukraine.

In a report on the government news agency KCNA, the Pyongyang Army claimed that its soldiers helped the Russian forces to “liberate” the Korsk border area completely, “according to a matter issued by leader Kim Jong Un.

The Pyongyang Declaration comes a few days after Russian Chief of Staff Valerie Girassemov praised the North Korean forces, the first time that Moscow has publicly recognized its participation.

Western officials had previously told the BBC that they believed that 1,000 of 11,000 soldiers were sent from North Korea had been killed over three months.

Gerasimov also claims that Moscow has regained full control of the western Kursk region in the country – a demand that Ukraine denied.

In response to the statement, the United States said that North Korea should now bear the responsibility for sustaining the war.

South Korean and Western intelligence reported that long Pyongyang sent thousands of forces to Kursk last year.

Kcna said that the decision to deploy the forces was in accordance with the mutual defense treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow.

“They fought for justice, they are all heroes and representatives of the homeland’s honor,” Kim said, according to Kcna.

North Korea and Russia showed their “alliance and brothers” in Kursk, adding that “the friendship proved by blood” will contribute greatly to the expansion of the relationship “in every way.”

He added that North Korea will support the Russian army again.

KCNA did not say what would happen to the North Korean forces after their mission ended in Kursk and whether they will be able to return to the homeland.

Reports that North Korea soldiers had been deployed to fight for Russia first appeared in October, yet Deepening bilateral relations between Kim and Putin.

This included the signing of an agreement, where both Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Kim agreed to support each other if any of the two countries deal with “aggression”.

Military experts said that the North Korean forces, which are said to be from the “elite” unit called The Storm Corps, are not ready for the facts of modern war.

“These are hardly trained forces led by Russian officers who do not understand them.”

Nevertheless, the Supreme Military Commander in Ukraine warned General Olikander Serski earlier that North Korean soldiers were a major problem for Ukrainian fighters on the confrontation line.

“They are many,” the general told Tsn Tyzhden News.