Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Lavrov Says Russia, North Korea Seek New Righteous World Order
Two big countries, Russia and North Korea, are friends.
Russia is fighting a war with Ukraine, another country.
North Korea sent soldiers to Russia to help in the fighting, in a place called Kursk.
Russia said it won there and thanked North Korea.
Russia's top diplomat, Mr. Lavrov, sent a message to North Korea's top diplomat.
He said the two countries are working to make a new and fair world.
Russia said mean things about Ukraine's leader, but Ukraine says those things are not true.
Some other countries are worried that Russia might help North Korea build weapons.
Ukraine's leader said even more North Korean soldiers might come to Russia.
Many countries are watching what happens next.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told North Korea the two countries are building a 'new and righteous world order' based on equality and national interests.
Lavrov praised North Korean troops for helping drive Ukrainian forces and 'foreign mercenaries' out of Russia's Kursk region.
North Korea sent an estimated 14,000 soldiers to Russia in late 2024; Putin declared victory in Kursk in May 2025 and thanked Pyongyang.
Russia repeated its characterization of Ukraine's government as a 'Nazi clique,' a claim Zelenskiy and Western allies dismiss as absurd.
South Korea and Western countries are concerned Moscow may aid Pyongyang's weapons development in return; Zelenskiy said up to 50,000 more North Korean soldiers could be deployed.
- Who
- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui exchanged messages, with leaders Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskiy also central to the story.
- What
- Lavrov told North Korea the two countries are establishing a 'new and righteous world order' after North Korean troops helped drive Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk region.
- When
- Reported in mid-August; KCNA announced Lavrov's message on Tuesday and the Reuters article is dated Aug 18.
- Where
- Russia and North Korea, with the military operation centered on the Kursk region in western Russia.
- Why
- Lavrov sought to reaffirm military and political cooperation after Pyongyang sent troops to support Moscow's campaign against Ukraine.
Russia and North Korea
Ukraine and Western Allies
Framing of the Conflict in Ukraine
Russia and North Korea
Lavrov praised North Korean troops for driving the 'Ukrainian Nazi clique and foreign mercenaries' out of Kursk, repeating Russia's portrayal of Ukraine's government as Nazis.
Ukraine and Western Allies
Ukraine and its Western allies dismiss the 'Nazi' characterization as absurd, noting that President Zelenskiy is Jewish.
North Korea's Military Support for Russia
Russia and North Korea
Moscow and Pyongyang describe North Korean troop participation as proof of a 'militant friendship' and say they are building a 'new and righteous world order' on equality and national interests.
Ukraine and Western Allies
South Korea and Western countries are concerned Pyongyang may receive weapons-development help from Moscow in return for its support in Ukraine.
- Russian Foreign Minister
- Sergei Lavrov
- North Korean Foreign Minister
- Choe Son Hui
- North Korean troops deployed (estimated)
- 14,000 soldiers in late 2024
- Region of operation
- Kursk, Russia
- Russian victory declared
- May 2025, by President Putin
- Weapons North Korea supplied to Russia
- Millions of artillery and mortar rounds, ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems
- Zelenskiy's deployment claim
- Up to 50,000 additional North Korean soldiers to Russia
- News agency
- KCNA (North Korea)