China decides not to criticize Russia-North Korea military cooperation

When asked about the reaction to the ratification of the strategic partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea, which reportedly led to the deployment of North Korean soldiers to fight against Ukraine, Lin Jian gave a neutral response.

He emphasized that China has repeatedly stated its position on the interaction between North Korea and Russia, noting that both countries are independent sovereign states and that the development of their bilateral relations is "a matter for themselves."

North Korean troop involvement in the Ukraine war

Ukrainian military intelligence reported on Oct. 18 that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in eastern Russia to join the fight against Ukraine. South Korean intelligence also confirmed that Russia is preparing North Korean special forces for deployment in Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged North Korean troop involvement in Ukraine on Oct. 28, noting their relocation to Russia's Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian intelligence disclosed that North Korean soldiers have been equipped with infantry weapons like mortars, rifles, and machine guns.

The Washington Post indicated that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stands to gain financial support, military technology, and increased international attention from Putin in exchange for these forces.

President Zelenskyy confirmed on Nov. 4 that about 11,000 North Korean troops were stationed in Kursk Oblast, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov later reported that the first minor skirmish with North Korean troops on the Kursk front had taken place on Nov. 5.