Photo/Illutration Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and North Korean Defence Minister No Kwang Chol watch honor guards marching past during a welcoming ceremony upon Belousov's arrival at Pyongyang Sunan International Airport, North Korea, in this still image from video released on Nov. 29. (Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS)

SEOUL--North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has told the Russian defense minister that Ukraine's use of long-range weapons is the result of direct military intervention by the United States and Moscow is entitled to fight in self-defense, state media said on Saturday.

Kim met Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov on Friday and said "the U.S. and the West made Kyiv authorities attack Russia's territory with their own long-range strike weapons" and Russia should take action to make "hostile forces pay the price," KCNA news agency said.

"The DPRK government, army and people will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists' moves for hegemony," KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

DPRK is short for North Korea's official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

Kim pledged to expand ties with Russia in all areas including military affairs under the comprehensive strategic partnership he signed with Russian President Vladimir Putin in June, which includes a mutual defense agreement, KCNA said.

Moscow and Pyongyang have dramatically advanced ties since their leaders held a summit in September last year in Russia, and the North has since shipped more than 10,000 containers of ammunition, as well as self-propelled howitzers and multiple rocket launchers, according to South Korea's spy agency.

KCNA made no mention of whether Kim and Belousov discussed North Korea's deployment of troops to Russia.

South Korea's spy agency has said North Korea has sent more than 10,000 troops to Russia and they have been moved to frontlines, including the Kursk region where Russian forces are trying to expel Ukrainian forces.

Ukraine has fired U.S. ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory after the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden gave permission to use them for such an attack this month.

Russia in turn unleashed attacks against Ukraine's military and energy infrastructures, saying it was in response to the use of U.S. medium-range missiles.

Belousov separately held talks with North Korea's Defense Minister No Kwang Chol and said the partnership pact signed by Kim and Putin will contribute to maintaining balance of power in Northeast Asia.

Kim personally attended a reception hosted by the defense ministry for Belousov's delegation, KCNA said.

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