North Korea has pledged its steadfast support for Russia in the ongoing Ukraine conflict, with Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui affirming that Pyongyang is committed to standing by Moscow “as long as it takes.” Speaking in Moscow during a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Choe emphasized that North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered a strong backing of the Russian military and its people in what she described as their “holy war.”

Choe expressed confidence that under President Vladimir Putin’s leadership, the Russian forces and populace will secure a significant victory in their efforts to uphold their sovereign rights and security interests. “We reaffirm that we will always adamantly stand by our Russian comrades until the victory day,” she stated.

The meeting highlighted the growing ties between Russia and North Korea across various sectors, particularly in defense. This partnership is founded on the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership signed in June, which promises mutual military support. Choe noted that both countries aim to enhance their foreign policy coordination and tackle international issues together across global platforms.

Lavrov echoed these sentiments, indicating that bilateral relations have reached an “unprecedentedly high level.” He thanked North Korea for its principled stance on the events unfolding in Ukraine, attributing the situation to NATO’s expansion and efforts to “erase everything Russian” from Ukraine.

The treaty, ratified by the Russian parliament last week, includes a clause stating that if one party is invaded, the other is obligated to provide military and other assistance without delay. Concerns have been raised by Ukraine and Western nations over accusations that North Korea might be sending troops to support Russia. However, North Korea has dismissed these claims as attempts to discredit its image. Meanwhile, President Putin has remained ambiguous on the matter, stating that the specifics of the cooperation are not for public discussion.