Moscow: Media reports reveal that Russia has, for the first time, acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops, who are actively fighting alongside Moscow in the Ukraine war.
Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, took note of the "role of North Korean fighters" in the Kursk border region as he reported on the "complete liberation" of the territory to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Yonhap news agency reported, quoting Russia's TASS and Ria Novosti.
"I want specially to note the participation of servicemen of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea in liberating border areas of the Kursk region ... in accordance with the Treaty on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries," he was quoted as saying by the TASS news agency, referring to North Korea by its official name.
This marks the first time a Russian official has acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops. North Korea, however, has not confirmed the dispatch.
According to TASS, Gerasimov stated that the North Korean soldiers were "accomplishing combat objectives shoulder to shoulder" with Russian forces and "showed high professionalism and displayed endurance, courage and heroism in combat."
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, also made her initial comments acknowledging the presence of North Korean soldiers.
"Gerasimov reported that North Korean fighters, fighting shoulder to shoulder with Russian soldiers in the Kursk Region, demonstrated resilience and heroism. We will never forget our friends," Sputnik reported, quoting her from a Telegram post.
South Korea and the United States estimate that North Korea has deployed approximately 11,000 troops to Ukraine’s front lines since last October to back Moscow's aggression. They report that around 4,000 of these soldiers have been wounded and suggest that North Korea may have sent an additional 3,000 troops to Russia earlier this year.
At their summit last June, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a partnership treaty, committing to provide military support "without delay" if either nation faces an attack.
(inputs from IANS)