SEOUL, South Korea (AP) 鈥 North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed his country will 鈥渋nvariably support鈥 Russia鈥檚 war in Ukraine as he met Russia's defense chief, the North鈥檚 state media reported Saturday.
A Russia military delegation led by Defense Minister Andrei Belousov arrived in North Korea on Friday, amid growing international concern about the two countries鈥 expanding cooperation after to Russia last month.
The official Korean Central News Agency said that Kim and Belousov reached 鈥渁 satisfactory consensus鈥 on boosting strategic partnership and defending each country鈥檚 sovereignty, security interests and international justice in the face of the rapidly-changing international security environments in a Friday meeting.
Kim said that North Korea 鈥渨ill invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists鈥 moves for hegemony,鈥 KCNA said.
North Korea has supported Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine, calling it a defensive response to what both Moscow and Pyongyang call NATO鈥檚 鈥渞eckless鈥 eastward advance and U.S.-led moves to stamp out Russia鈥檚 position as a powerful state.
Kim slammed a U.S. decision earlier in November to let Ukraine strike targets inside Russia with as a direct intervention in the conflict. He called recent Russian strikes on Ukraine 鈥渁 timely and effective measure" demonstrate Russia's resolve, KCNA said.
According to U.S., Ukrainian and South Korean assessments, North Korea has sent more than 10,000 to Russia and some of them have already begun engaging in combat on the frontlines. U.S., South Korean and others say North Korea has also shipped to replenish Russia鈥檚 exhausted weapons inventory.
Both North Korea and Russia haven鈥檛 formally confirmed the North Korean troops鈥 movements, and have steadfastly denied reports of weapons shipments.
South Korea, the U.S. and their partners are concerned that Russia could give North Korea in return, including help to build more powerful nuclear missiles.
Last week, South Korean national security adviser Shin Wonsik told a local SBS TV program that that Seoul assessed that . He said Russia also appeared to have given economic assistance to North Korea and various military technologies, including those needed for the North鈥檚 efforts to build a reliable space-based surveillance system.
Belousov also met North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol on Friday. During a dinner banquet later the same day, Belousov said the the two countries' strategic partnership was crucial to defend their sovereignty from aggression and the arbitrary actions of imperialists, KCNA said.
In June, Kim and Putin signed requiring both countries to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked. It's considered the two countries鈥 biggest defense deal since the end of the Cold War.
