North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised the "heroic North Korean troops" who fought for Russia in Ukraine. He made the remarks at a meeting with officers from the army's overseas operations, Reuters reported, citing state media KCNA.
Kim "highly praised their feats in leading the combat units of our armed forces, which participated in the operations to liberate the Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation, to victory," KCNA reported.
Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership treaty in June last year, which includes a mutual defense pact.
Ahead of Putin's meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kim spoke to Putin by phone and reaffirmed his full support for Moscow.
Kim paid tribute to North Korean soldiers who died during the war with Ukraine by covering their coffins with flags and placing both hands on them - a rare public display.
"Our army is heroic. Our army has fully demonstrated its unique qualities. "Such a result has solidified its name and reputation as the most powerful army in the world," Kim said, according to KCNA.
North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine and is believed to be planning further deployments, according to a South Korean intelligence assessment.