In brief
North Korea is prioritizing its "brotherly ties" with Russia by providing aid to wounded soldiers and children affected by the war against Ukraine, highlighting the growing collaboration between the two nations.
North Korea is reviving its historical alliance with Russia through the care of Russian soldiers injured in the Ukraine war and housing children orphaned by the conflict, according to comments made by Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora. In a recent interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Matsegora announced that hundreds of wounded Russian soldiers and some children who lost their parents in battle are currently residing in North Korea.While this level of cooperation marks one of the first public acknowledgments of North Korea's support for Russia’s military efforts, the full extent of these developments remains unverified. Relations between North Korea and Russia have intensified significantly since the onset of Russia's invasion of Ukraine three years ago. Reports have even emerged of North Korean troops engaging alongside Russian forces.Matsegora highlighted the bond between the two countries, stating, “One of the clear examples of our brotherly ties is the rehabilitation of hundreds of soldiers wounded in the special military operation at Korean sanitariums and clinics.” He mentioned that North Korea has also taken in Russian children whose fathers died in the war, providing them shelter at the Songdowon children’s recreation center located on the country's east coast. However, the ambassador did not provide detailed information about the children's situations or the duration of their stay in North Korea.
