North Korea Defends Ukraine War Before Military Leadership... "Thorough Self-Defense"

"Forming a 'Quasi-Military Alliance,' Then Overtly Supporting Russia"

North Korea has stepped forward to defend Russia's 'special military operation' by leading its military leadership. It criticized the United States' military support for Ukraine, and it is interpreted that North Korea, which recently restored relations with Russia to a level close to a military alliance, has launched an overt offensive campaign.

Pak Jong-chon, Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party, claimed in a statement titled "Arrogant Recklessness Invites Divine Punishment," released on the 24th through the Korean Central News Agency, that "(the United States) has cast off its cumbersome mask and fully revealed its true nature as a vicious anti-Russia confrontation fanatic." He took issue with the recent relaxation of restrictions by the United States on the use of its aid weapons following Ukraine's attacks on Russian mainland territory. Pak Jong-chon is considered the top-ranking figure in the North Korean military hierarchy.

On the 18th, ahead of the state visit of Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, a large banner with the phrase "Welcome Comrade Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation" along with a photo is hung on a building near Kim Il-sung Square in Pyongyang. [Image source=TASS Yonhap News]

Vice Chairman Pak sarcastically referred to "the Zelensky puppet regime's reckless attack deep into Russian territory as a futile desperate measure to manage the increasingly deteriorating war situation." He also said, "If they continue to recklessly push their war machine, Ukraine, toward an anti-Russian proxy war battlefield as they are doing now, it is inevitable that Russia will respond more forcefully," warning that this would only lead to the 'worst outcome' of a full-scale confrontation with Russia.

Regarding Russia's response, he described it as "an act of justice and thorough self-defense," emphasizing, "We will always stand with the Russian military and people who are engaged in a just struggle to defend their sovereign rights, strategic stability, and territorial integrity."

The statement on this day focused on condemning the United States while representing Russia's position. It is noteworthy that it strongly defended Russia under the name of a top military official following Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea on the 19th, his first in 24 years.

North Korea and Russia signed a 'comprehensive strategic partnership' agreement on the occasion of Putin's visit. The new treaty explicitly states that if either side is invaded, the other will "immediately provide military and other assistance using all means at its disposal." This is regarded as a de facto revival of the 'automatic military intervention' clause contained in the 1961 North Korea-Soviet Union Friendship Treaty during the Cold War era.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.