▲ North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (L) and Russian President Vladimir Putin hold a meeting at the Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing after attending a military parade on Sept. 3, 2025, in this photo released by TASS. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

(LEAD) NK leader-Putin

(LEAD) Kim thanks Putin for praising N. Korean troops in Russia as they meet in Beijing

(ATTN: UPDATES throughout; CHANGES headline, photo)

By Yi Wonju

SEOUL, Sept. 3 (Yonhap) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong-un thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for hailing the North's troops deployed in Russia to aid Moscow's war against Ukraine, as they held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of a military parade on Wednesday in Beijing.

The two leaders met at the Diaoyutai state guest house after attending the military parade at Tiananmen Square in Beijing marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II in 1945.

During their talks, Putin said he will "never forget" the role of North Korean soldiers who fought "bravely and heroically" in Russia's front-line region of Kursk in the war against Ukraine.

In response, Kim thanked Putin for praising his troops fighting for Russia and stressed that the North considers it a "brotherly duty" to provide assistance to Moscow.

Kim emphasized that the relations between the two countries have developed in all aspects since they signed a strategic partnership treaty in June last year, which included a mutual defense pact on providing immediate military assistance if either faced armed aggression.

He then vowed to do "everything possible" to help Russia.

The meeting comes amid deepening cooperation between North Korea and Russia in a wide range of areas, which has involved the North's deployment of troops in support of Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Since October last year, North Korea has sent around 13,000 troops and conventional weapons to support Russia's war efforts.

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