North Korea's Kim Jong Un lauds sending troops overseas in 2025, state media says

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his country’s achievements in 2025, which included sending troops to overseas military operations, state media KCNA said Friday.

SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised his country’s achievements in 2025, which included sending troops to overseas military operations, state news agency KCNA said Friday.

Kim has been presiding over a key party meeting this week to note policy plans and their execution as the country prepares to convene the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea, expected early next year.

According to Kim, North Korea saw “accelerated forward momentum and redoubled self-sustainability” in 2025, KCNA said Friday.

Ukraine strikes Russian ‘shadow fleet’ tanker in the Black Sea00:32“Over the past year, various soldiers of our military have participated in overseas military operations to demonstrate the reputation of our military,” KCNA said, as one example of the country’s achievements.

Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin have signed a mutual defense pact, and North Korea has sent soldiers, artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia to support Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.