Beijing/Washington, D.C. – Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his soldiers’ fighting ‘heroically’ with Russian forces in Ukraine.

The two leaders held bilateral talks in Beijing after attending the military parade hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“At your initiative, as is well known, your special forces participated in the liberation of the Kursk region,” Putin told Kim. “Your soldiers fought courageously and heroically.”

South Korea estimates North Korea has sent around 15,000 troops and large amounts of military equipment, including ballistic missiles and artillery, to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to Seoul, some 2,000 North Korean soldiers are estimated to have died fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

Kim said that cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has ‘significantly strengthened’ since the two countries signed a strategic partnership pact in June last year.

“If there’s anything I can do for you and the people of Russia, if there is more that needs to be done, I will consider it as a fraternal duty, an obligation that we surely need to bear, and will be prepared to do everything possible to help,” Kim said.

Trump alleges conspiracy against US

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump accused the leaders of China, North Korea and Russia of conspiring against the United States as Beijing hosted China’s largest-ever military parade showcasing its growing military might.

Trump posted the remarks on Tuesday on the US social media company Truth Social’s platform, which he owns, writing: “The big question to be answered is whether or not President Xi of China will mention the massive amount of support and ‘blood’ that The United States of America gave to China in order to help it secure its freedom from a very unfriendly foreign invader.”

He noted that many Americans lost their lives in China’s struggle for victory and expressed hope that their bravery and sacrifice would be ‘rightfully honoured and remembered’.

“May President Xi and the wonderful people of China have a great and lasting day of celebration. Please give my warmest regards to (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, and (North Korean leader) Kim Jong Un, as you conspire against the United States of America,” he added.

Moscow denies Trump accusation

However, Moscow on Wednesday denied Trump’s accusation.

“I want to say that no one was plotting (against the US), no one was weaving anything, no conspiracies. Moreover, no one even had this in their thoughts, none of these three leaders had it,” Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin in an interview shared on his Telegram account.

“In addition, I can say that everyone understands what role the United States, the current administration of President Trump and President Trump personally play in the current international situation,” Ushakov said, adding he thinks Trump’s remarks were ‘not without irony’.

Trump ‘disappointed’ with Putin

Trump also said he is ‘very disappointed’ with Putin, for failing to reach a peace deal with Ukraine. He was speaking on the Scott Jennings Radio Show.

“I’m very disappointed in President Putin, I can say that,” Trump responded when asked if he felt betrayed by Putin’s response. “We had a great relationship, I’m very disappointed.”

Trump recently gave Putin a two-week deadline to start talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Trump said his administration was planning on ‘doing something to help people live’. He did not provide any specifics on potential steps the US would take.

Speaking later in the Oval Office, Trump said there would be consequences if Putin and Zelenskyy fail to meet to end the war in Ukraine.

Agencies