North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said his country will continue to support Russia's policies following discussions on the international political situation with Russia's defence minister, state media KCNA reported.
A Russian delegation, including Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, attended a completion ceremony for a memorial honouring North Korean soldiers killed while fighting in Russia's Kursk region.
"The North Korean government would continue to fully support Russia's policies of defending its sovereignty, territorial integrity and security interests," Kim said, according to KCNA.
North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 troops to fight alongside Russian forces in Kursk after the two countries agreed a mutual defence pact.
South Korean, Ukrainian and Western officials said more than 6,000 North Korean soldiers were killed in the fighting.
Ties deepen
Kim also met with Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of Russia's parliament, and reaffirmed the intention to deepen bilateral ties in line with their strategic partnership treaty.
This echoed in a letter from Vladimir Putin, which said "through joint efforts, Russia and North Korea would continue to strengthen their comprehensive strategic partnership."
Kim steadily moved to elevate the North Korean troops who fought in the Kursk region into symbols of sacrifice and loyalty.
"The souls of the fallen will live forever with the great honour they defended," Kim said in a handwritten message at the memorial on Sunday.
