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North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pledged to provide "steadfast and unwavering support" to Russia, describing the war it is waging in Ukraine as "sacred," according to official media on Tuesday.
Pyongyang is a key ally of Moscow, having sent troops to support it in its war on Ukraine in exchange for economic benefits and military technology, according to analysts' estimates.
Estimates by South Korea's intelligence agency last year showed that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers were killed in the war, while more recent estimates suggest that the number of North Korean military casualties is around 6,000.
The official Korean Central News Agency quoted Kim as saying in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, "I am fully confident in the victory of the Russian Federation in this sacred war being waged in defense of the country's security interests and international justice. I pledge to you, my dear friend, and to the fraternal Russian people, my steadfast support that will not waver."
He added, "The will of my government and the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea is firmly committed to expanding and deepening comprehensive cooperation with the Russian Federation."
The message comes amid reports that Pyongyang is preparing to send more soldiers to Russia to support its military operations in Ukraine.
Kyiv has mentioned that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers may be deployed in Russia, without providing evidence or a timeframe to support this estimate.
In announcing this number, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on South Korea to provide his country with air defense systems to counter Russian missiles, but Seoul has not yet responded to his request.
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