Seoul: Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed gratitude to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for deploying troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine. The deployment, which was officially confirmed by North Korea on Monday, is part of their mutual defence treaty, with North Korea's soldiers aiding Russia in regaining control of the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.

In a statement, Putin thanked Kim and the North Korean people for their assistance, emphasising that the strong bilateral friendship forged on the battlefield would continue to grow. "We highly appreciate this and are sincerely grateful, personally to the Chairman of the State Affairs Committee, Comrade Kim Jong-un, as well as to the entire leadership and the people of North Korea," the Russian president said, according to a report from the Russian news agency Tass.

North Korea confirmed the deployment for the first time on Monday, saying that it was carried out under Kim Jong-un's orders in accordance with their defence treaty with Moscow. The North’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported that the troop deployment helped Russia reclaim the Kursk region.

The deployment has sparked strong condemnation from South Korea, which accused Pyongyang of "mocking" the international community by justifying the move. A statement from South Korea’s foreign ministry described the action as a violation of international law, including the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions, and called for an immediate cessation of the military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.

"The dispatch of North Korean troops, along with broader military cooperation, constitutes a grave violation of international norms," the statement read. South Korea warned that the actions undermine peace and stability not only in the Indo-Pacific region but also in Europe, and vowed to work with the international community to take all necessary measures against actions threatening national security.

This development further highlights the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. PTI