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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his commitment to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Getting into it: During a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in the North Korean resort city of Wonsan, Kim vowed to “unconditionally support and encourage all measures” taken by the Russian leadership, framing North Korea’s involvement as a principled stand against what he called the “root cause of the Ukrainian crisis.” This declaration comes as Pyongyang prepares to send an additional 6,000 military engineers and construction workers to help rebuild the Russian border region of Kursk—though Western officials and analysts suspect this deployment may serve as a cover for sending more combat troops.

During his meeting with Lavrov, Kim portrayed North Korea’s support as an act of solidarity and grounded in the shared goal of resisting Western influence. He expressed confidence that Russia would ultimately prevail, describing its campaign as a “sacred cause” to protect national dignity. Russian officials echoed this sentiment, thanking Kim for what Lavrov called a “sincere expression of solidarity.”

This comes as North Korea has already sent over 13,000 personnel to assist Russia, including an estimated 11,000 combat troops, many of whom are reported to have been killed or wounded on the front lines. Their presence was critical in Russia’s efforts to retake areas in the Kursk region that had fallen under Ukrainian control last year. In addition to manpower, Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with substantial military hardware — including ballistic missiles, artillery shells, and ammunition. These contributions have helped fill critical gaps in Russia’s military supply chain as it ramps up its summer offensive in Ukraine.