North Korea's Kim makes rare visit to Russian embassy as ties deepen

North Korean army generals meet Putin at parade, strengthening DPRK-Russia relations with military cooperation and solidarity.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un made a rare visit to the Russian embassy in Pyongyang with his daughter on Friday (May 9, 2025) to celebrate Russia's Victory Day to mark the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, state media said.

Mr. Kim said North Korea will "consolidate and develop the long tradition of the DPRK-Russia relations, the noble ideological foundation and the invincible alliance", KCNA reported.

North Korea's unprecedented deployment of thousands of troops, as well as huge amounts of artillery ammunition and missiles, has helped Russia push back a Ukrainian incursion into its western Kursk region. It has also brought North Korea and Russia - both economically and politically isolated - closer.

About 600 North Korean troops have been killed fighting for Russia against Ukraine out of a total deployment of 15,000, according to the South Korean intelligence.

Also Read | Putin thanks North Korea for sending its troops to fight Ukraine in Kursk region

In return, Pyongyang appears to have received technical assistance on satellites, as well as drones and anti-aircraft missiles, South Korea has said.

Russia is marking the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two on Friday (May 8) with a military parade attended by China's Xi Jinping, three years after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.