Russia says Moscow, Pyongyang jointly 'safeguarding' world from enemy

▲ This image from the Telegram account of the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang on Feb. 23, 2026, shows Russian and North Korean officials, including Defense Attache Alexei Bartusov, paying respect at a site in Pyongyang commemorating Russian soldiers killed while fighting for North Korea during World War II. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

Russian Embassy-N Korea

Russia says Moscow, Pyongyang jointly 'safeguarding' world from enemy

SEOUL, Feb. 24 (Yonhap) -- A Russian official praised Moscow-Pyongyang relations, saying they are "safeguarding" world justice against an enemy at a banquet in Pyongyang hosted by the Russian Embassy, a North Korean newspaper reported Tuesday.

"(North Korea and Russia) are safeguarding the world's peace and justice in opposition to their common enemy," the Rodong Sinmun newspaper quoted Russian Defense Attache Alexei Bartusov as saying at a banquet hosted by the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang the previous day.

The banquet at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club marked Russia's Feb. 23 Defender of the Fatherland Day, which commemorates the founding of the Red Army, and was also attended by Russia's acting ambassador to Pyongyang and North Korean officials.

The Russian military official emphasized the bilateral solidarity forged through Pyongyang's dispatch of troops to support Russia in its war with Ukraine, saying, "Russia will forever remember the great service of North Korean soldiers in the operation to liberate the Kursk region."

He said bilateral ties have been elevated to an unprecedentedly high level in line with the will of the two countries' leaders, expressing "sincere" thanks to the North Korean leadership and people for their support for Russia's struggle against the West.

At the banquet, a North Korean vice defense minister described the countries as having "friendship forged in blood on the battlefield," vowing that "Pyongyang will always be with Moscow."

According to the embassy's Telegram account, participants also viewed a photo exhibition at the diplomatic club featuring the Russia-Ukraine war and the Russian military's modern combat achievements.

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