North Korea Backs Russia, Criticizes US Over Taiwan

North Korea has criticized the United States over its arms sales and military support to Taiwan while expressing continued support for Russia in the Ukraine war.

North Korean international affairs analyst Kim Myong Chol, in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), said Washington’s Taiwan policy was undermining peace and stability in the region. He also condemned the US delivery of fighter jets to Taiwan.

Kim questioned whether the United States was prepared to confront China’s growing national power over Taiwan and whether it could deal with the consequences.

Taiwan recently received the first two F-16V Block 70 fighter jets from the United States. Taipei ordered 66 of the aircraft in 2019.

North Korea’s position on Taiwan has increasingly aligned with that of China. Beijing claims Taiwan as part of its territory, while Taipei rejects China’s sovereignty claim.

North Korea has also strengthened ties with both China and Russia. In June, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Pyongyang and expressed full support for the one-China principle.

China and North Korea have said they will expand cooperation in diplomacy, law enforcement and military affairs.

Analysts say North Korea has deployed troops to support Russia in the Ukraine war, although it has not made a similar military commitment to China.

China considers Taiwan a core national issue and opposes official contacts between Taiwanese authorities and foreign leaders. Taiwan, however, maintains that Beijing has no right to claim the island or represent it internationally.

China is North Korea’s treaty ally. Pyongyang has repeatedly urged Washington to stop arms sales to Taiwan, although US law requires Washington to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself despite the absence of formal diplomatic relations.

In another KCNA report, Kim Jong Un, in a birthday message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, pledged continued support for Moscow and its war effort.

Kim said North Korea would continue supporting Russia under their comprehensive strategic partnership. He expressed hope that Russia’s “sacred and just war” to defend its sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity would end in victory.

The message did not directly mention the war in Ukraine.

According to Ukrainian and South Korean data, North Korea has sent around 14,000 to 15,000 troops to support Russia since 2024. The two countries’ ties have deepened since they signed a mutual defense treaty in June 2024.