On Wednesday, Sept. 3, following a military parade in Beijing, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held bilateral talks that lasted more than two and a half hours. The two leaders discussed cooperation and the participation of North Korean (DPRK) troops in the war against Ukraine.

According to Russian media, Putin said that DPRK military units had taken part in fighting in Russia’s Kursk Oblast. He emphasized that this happened “at the initiative of Kim Jong Un and in accordance with the new treaty between the two countries.”

“I want to note that we will never forget the sacrifices made by your armed forces and the families of your servicemen,” Putin added, asking that his gratitude be conveyed to all the people of North Korea.

In turn, Kim Jong Un called the participation of his soldiers in combat “the brotherly duty of the DPRK.” He also thanked Putin for “highly valuing the role” played by North Korean troops.

Kim said that he supplied troops before, and is more than happy to do so again.

Last week, Kim Jong Un met with relatives of fallen soldiers to express his condolences. Moscow and Pyongyang have not officially disclosed the number of DPRK military casualties.

The talks between Putin and Kim Jong Un began with delegations and later continued one-on-one. At the conclusion of the meeting, the leaders embraced. Putin escorted the North Korean dictator to his motorcade and invited him to visit Russia.

However, Seoul’s spy agency said Tuesday that around 2,000 of the North Korean soldiers deployed to help Russia fight Ukraine are estimated to have been killed.

Seoul’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) said in April “the number of war dead was at least 600. But based on updated assessments, it now estimates the figure at around 2,000,” lawmaker Lee Seong-kweun told reporters after a briefing from the spy agency.

South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have said the North sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia in 2024 – primarily to Kursk Oblast – along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.

Lawmaker Lee said that the NIS believed that Pyongyang planned to deploy another 6,000 soldiers and engineers to Russia and that 1,000 had already arrived.

Russia and North Korea signed a military deal last year, including a mutual defense clause, during a rare visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea.