### North Korea Vows Support for Russia in Ukraine Conflict

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-Hui assured Russia of Pyongyang's unwavering support during her meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Friday. Choe pledged North Korea's solidarity with Russia until it achieves "victory" in its ongoing war against Ukraine.

This high-level discussion comes amidst reports claiming that North Korea has dispatched thousands of troops to Russia, potentially for deployment on Ukraine's battlefield. "We repeat that we will always stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day," said Choe Son-hui, according to a Russian translation during their televised discussions.

She further expressed confidence in Russia's success under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin, stating that the "Russian army and people will surely achieve a great victory in their sacred struggle to defend the sovereign rights and security of their state."

Reflecting the sentiment, Lavrov praised the strong ties between the military forces and special services of the two countries. He mentioned that this collaborative stance would help to achieve critical security objectives for both Russian and North Korean citizens. Lavrov expressed deep gratitude for North Korea's steadfast position on the unfolding events in Ukraine.

During their meeting, no direct mention was made of the Western reports regarding North Korean troop deployments in Russia. However, the backdrop of these discussions is Washington’s claim that around 8,000 North Korean troops are currently stationed in the Kursk region, an area which experienced a surprise ground attack by Ukrainian forces in early August.

Additionally, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently criticized what he perceives as inaction by Western allies regarding the issue of North Korean troops in an interview with South Korean media. Further cementing historical ties, Lavrov and Choe unveiled a memorial plaque commemorating North Korea's Kim Il-Sung's visit to the USSR in 1949.