Ministry of Unification: "Putin Officially Acknowledges Soviet Union's Participation in the Korean War for the First Time"

"Demonstrating Anti-American and Anti-Western Solidarity Domestically and Internationally"

The government evaluated that Russia officially acknowledged for the first time the Soviet army's participation in the Korean War. President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years to attend an expanded summit.

According to a Yonhap News report, a Ministry of Unification official said on the 20th at the Government Seoul Office during a meeting with reporters, "President Putin stated in his remarks at the expanded summit that Soviet pilots flew tens of thousands of combat missions during the 1950-1953 (Fatherland) Liberation War."

The term "1950-1953 Fatherland Liberation War" refers to the Korean War as called by North Korea. The official added, "Although it has been widely known that Soviet Air Force pilots were deployed in the Korean War, neither the Soviet Union nor Russia had officially confirmed their participation until now. President Putin officially acknowledged this participation for the first time during this visit to North Korea."

President Putin's remarks came during the expanded summit while emphasizing the traditional friendly relations between the two countries. He said, "The friendship between Russia and Joseon was formed through harsh times," and "The heroic activities of our predecessors are a solid foundation for the future development of bilateral relations." In a contribution to the Rodong Sinmun before his visit, President Putin also wrote, "Even during the difficult period of the 1950-1953 Fatherland Liberation War, the Soviet Union extended a helping hand to the people of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and supported the Korean people's struggle for independence," and he mentioned the same content at the press conference after the summit.

The Ministry of Unification official summarized the recent North Korea-Russia summit by saying, "The bilateral relationship was elevated mainly through military cooperation, and an anti-American and anti-Western solidarity was demonstrated both domestically and internationally." He continued, "From North Korea's perspective, it secured Russia's support in response to the South Korea-U.S.-Japan cooperation, and Russia maintained North Korea's support momentum regarding the Ukraine war," adding, "It can also be seen as Russia's intention to secure influence over the Korean Peninsula while overcoming Western sanctions."