Russian soldiers injured in the Ukraine conflict are treated in North Korea, as stated by Ambassador Alexander Matsegora. North Korea has become a key ally for Russia, especially following a strategic partnership agreement in 2024. The treatment is provided free of charge, highlighting the supportive nature of their alliance amidst deepening military cooperation and trade relations.
Russian soldiers injured during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine are receiving treatment and rehabilitation in North Korea, according to Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to North Korea. This information was shared in an interview with the state-controlled media outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta on February 9. The relationship between North Korea and Russia has notably deepened over the past three years, primarily due to a mutual geopolitical stance against Western nations, which presents considerable challenges to global stability.
In the fall of 2024, Russia and North Korea formalized a strategic partnership agreement focused on advancing trade, scientific, technical, and defense collaboration. However, the agreement notably lacks specific provisions regarding the medical treatment of wounded Russian soldiers. Matsegora noted that the medical care for Russian military personnel is provided at no cost in what he described as the best hospitals and sanatoriums within North Korea.
The ambassador stated that “hundreds” of injured soldiers have been transferred to North Korea for care. He also mentioned that when Russia proposed to reimburse North Korea for some of the expenses incurred in treating these soldiers, North Korean officials were “sincerely offended” and requested that no further offers of compensation be made. Furthermore, the children of Russian service members who lost their lives in Ukraine are reported to be vacationing in North Korea, while both countries are also fostering university student exchanges.
Additionally, Matsegora disclosed that Russia supplies North Korea with coal, food, and medicine, indicating a strong ongoing trade relationship. Military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has also intensified throughout 2024. Notably, President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June.
Subsequently, North Korea has enhanced its support for Russia’s military efforts, providing various forms of weaponry, including artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles. Last fall, as part of this collaboration, up to 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed in Russia’s Kursk Oblast to aid Russian forces in countering a Ukrainian incursion in that region.
This article highlights the deepening ties between North Korea and Russia, illustrated through the provision of medical care to wounded Russian soldiers, ongoing military cooperation, and substantial trade agreements. The relationship appears to be strengthening under shared geopolitical interests, contributing to both nations’ strategic objectives in the face of Western opposition.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
