Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised what he called an “invincible friendship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, even as reports emerge of North Korean soldiers dying while fighting alongside Russian forces in the Ukraine war. The growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang signals a significant shift in global geopolitics, raising alarm in Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo.
Deepening Russia–North Korea Military Ties
Putin’s remarks underscore the rapid strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea since the start of the Ukraine conflict. According to intelligence assessments and Western officials, North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with ammunition, missiles, and now personnel to support Moscow’s war effort. The deaths of North Korean troops on the battlefield highlight Pyongyang’s increasingly direct involvement in a war far from the Korean Peninsula.
For Russia, facing prolonged fighting and mounting pressure from Western sanctions, North Korea has emerged as a crucial partner willing to provide military assistance without political conditions. In return, Pyongyang appears to be gaining access to advanced military technology, financial support, and diplomatic backing from the Kremlin.
Kim Jong Un’s Strategic Calculations
Kim Jong Un, meanwhile, has used the growing alliance to bolster North Korea’s strategic ambitions. In recent statements, Kim vowed to accelerate the development of nuclear-powered submarines, a move that would dramatically enhance the country’s second-strike nuclear capability. Such submarines would allow North Korea to launch nuclear missiles from the sea, making its arsenal harder to detect and neutralize.
Experts believe Russia’s technical expertise could play a role in advancing North Korea’s naval nuclear program, despite international sanctions banning such cooperation. If realized, this development could significantly destabilize security dynamics in East Asia.
International Concerns and Sanctions Risks
The involvement of North Korean troops in Ukraine and the promise of advanced weapons development have drawn sharp criticism from the United States and its allies. Washington has warned that military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang violates multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions.
South Korea and Japan have also expressed grave concern, viewing the alliance as a direct threat to regional stability. Seoul has indicated it may reconsider its policy of limiting military aid to Ukraine if evidence of North Korean combat involvement continues to mount.
A New Axis Under Pressure
Putin’s praise of Kim reflects Russia’s broader strategy of building partnerships with countries isolated from the West. Alongside Iran and North Korea, Moscow is increasingly leaning on a network of sanctioned states to sustain its war economy and military operations.
For Kim Jong Un, aligning closely with Russia provides diplomatic legitimacy and leverage against the United States, while also accelerating North Korea’s weapons programs. However, the reported deaths of North Korean soldiers abroad could carry domestic risks for the regime if casualties grow and information leaks back home.
What Lies Ahead
As the Ukraine war drags on, the Russia–North Korea partnership is likely to deepen further. The combination of battlefield cooperation and advanced weapons development suggests a long-term strategic alignment rather than a temporary alliance of convenience.
For the international community, the growing “invincible friendship” between Putin and Kim presents a complex challenge—one that links European security with rising nuclear risks in East Asia, reshaping the global security landscape in unpredictable ways.