Lavrov says Russia, North Korea fighting for 'new, righteous' world order

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that Russia and North Korea are collaborating to forge a "new and righteous world order." In a message to his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, Lavrov emphasized their shared goal of establishing this order on the foundation of "genuine equality and national interests." He also pledged to enhance cooperation in all sectors, contributing to both regional and international security, according to North Korea's KCNA news agency.

Lavrov's statement follows North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's deployment of an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia in late 2024. This support was instrumental in helping Moscow repel a significant Ukrainian incursion into the Kursk region. Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly thanked Pyongyang for its assistance after declaring victory in May 2025.

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The participation of service personnel of the Korean People's Army in the operations to drive the Ukrainian Nazi clique and foreign mercenaries out of Kursk is a clear proof of the tradition of the militant friendship forged by the heroic preceding generations.

"The participation of service personnel of the Korean People's Army in the operations to drive the Ukrainian Nazi clique and foreign mercenaries out of Kursk is a clear proof of the tradition of the militant friendship forged by the heroic preceding generations," Lavrov stated. Russia has frequently characterized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's government as "Nazis," a claim dismissed as absurd by Zelenskiy, who is Jewish, and his Western allies.

Concerns persist among South Korea and Western nations regarding potential Russian assistance to Pyongyang in weapons development, in return for North Korea's support in Ukraine. Reports suggest that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers might be sent to Russia in a new deployment to intensify military pressure on Ukraine. Additionally, North Korea is believed to have supplied Russia with millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, and rocket systems.

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North Korea and Russia are continuing to establish a "new and righteous world order on the basis of genuine equality and national interests."