Russian soldiers wounded in the Ukraine conflict are receiving free medical treatment and rehabilitation in North Korea, according to Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador. This partnership has deepened following a strategic agreement ratified in 2024. The cooperation includes free medical services, university exchanges, and mutual military support, reflecting the increasing ties between the two nations amidst global tensions.
According to Alexander Matsegora, Russia’s ambassador to North Korea, Russian soldiers injured in the Ukraine conflict are receiving treatment and rehabilitation in North Korea. This announcement came during an interview with the Russian state media outlet Rossiyskaya Gazeta on February 9, highlighting the deepening ties between the two nations amidst a complex geopolitical landscape.
Relations between North Korea and Russia have significantly intensified over the past three years, especially against a backdrop of rising tensions with Western countries. In the autumn of 2024, both nations solidified a strategic partnership agreement, aimed at enhancing cooperation in trade, scientific research, technical developments, and defense. However, this agreement did not explicitly address the care of Russian soldiers who have been wounded.
Matsegora emphasized that the treatment provided to injured Russian military personnel in North Korea comes at no cost. The ambassador stated that they are receiving care in “the best hospitals and sanatoriums,” with hundreds of soldiers having already been sent for rehabilitation. He further noted that attempts to reimburse North Korea for these medical expenses were met with offense, as they requested that such offers not be repeated.
In addition to medical care, Matsegora mentioned that children of Russian service members who died in the Ukraine conflict are vacationing in North Korea. The two countries are also working on initiatives to promote university student exchanges, further strengthening their bilateral ties. Furthermore, Russia has been supplying North Korea with essential goods, including coal, food, and medicine.
Military cooperation between Russia and North Korea has expanded significantly in 2024. Russian President Vladimir Putin formalized this deepening relationship by signing a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in June. This alliance has reportedly facilitated North Korea’s provision of military support, including weaponry and, importantly, the deployment of North Korean soldiers to assist Russian troops in Ukraine.
In summary, the treatment of Russian soldiers in North Korea highlights the strengthening of diplomatic and military ties between Russia and North Korea. This partnership has evolved against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions and reflects their mutual interests in defense cooperation and economic exchange. Additionally, North Korea’s role in aiding the Russian military underscores the intertwined fates of these two countries in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Original Source: kyivindependent.com
