Russia, North Korea fighting for ‘new, righteous’ world order, Lavrov says

Russia and North Korea have pledged to deepen their strategic partnership, with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declaring that the two countries are working towards what he described as a “new and righteous world order.”

Lavrov made the remarks in a message to his North Korean counterpart, Choe Son Hui, as Moscow and Pyongyang continue to strengthen military and diplomatic cooperation.

North Korea’s state-run KCNA reported on Tuesday that Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to expanding cooperation with Pyongyang across multiple sectors while jointly contributing to regional and international security.

“North Korea and Russia are continuing to establish a ‘new and righteous world order on the basis of genuine equality and national interests,’” KCNA quoted Lavrov as saying.

Moscow praises North Korean troops

Lavrov also pointed to North Korea’s military assistance to Russia, describing the deployment of Korean soldiers to the Kursk region as evidence of the longstanding relationship between the two countries.

“The participation of service personnel of the Korean People’s Army in the operations to drive the Ukrainian Nazi clique and foreign mercenaries out of Kursk is a clear proof of the tradition of the militant friendship forged by the heroic preceding generations,” he said.

Russia has repeatedly referred to Ukraine's government as a “Nazi” regime since launching its full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukraine and its Western allies reject the description, pointing out that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Jewish and describing Moscow's characterisation as propaganda.

North Korea's growing role in Russia's war

Pyongyang's military relationship with Moscow has expanded dramatically since Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reportedly sent around 14,000 troops to Russia in late 2024, with the soldiers taking part in operations aimed at pushing Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared victory in the region in May 2025 and publicly thanked North Korea for its assistance.

The cooperation has raised serious concerns in Seoul and Western capitals over what North Korea may be receiving in return.

South Korea and Western governments suspect Moscow could be providing Pyongyang with technological or other assistance that could strengthen its weapons programmes.

More North Korean troops?

The military partnership could also be expanding.

Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said earlier this month that as many as 50,000 North Korean soldiers could be sent to Russia in a new deployment designed to increase military pressure on Ukraine.

North Korea has already been accused of supplying Russia with vast quantities of military equipment, including millions of artillery and mortar shells, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, according to Ukrainian and independent assessments.

The deepening alliance therefore represents more than diplomatic symbolism.

For Moscow, North Korea provides manpower and military supplies at a time when the war in Ukraine continues to consume enormous resources. For Pyongyang, closer ties with a nuclear-armed global power offer opportunities for military, technological and economic support.

And with both governments openly describing their cooperation as part of a challenge to the existing international system, their partnership is increasingly emerging as a significant strategic factor in the wider confrontation between Russia, Ukraine and the West.