Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed his "friendship" with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un ahead of his talks with Donald Trump on Friday, August 15.

This comes after the BBC reported on the "slave-like" conditions faced by thousands of North Korean workers sent to Russia to participate in construction projects.

Putin and Kim spoke on August 12, with the Russian leader praising Pyongyang's military support for his country's war against Ukraine.

This week, Russia scored new military successes in Ukraine, leading to a sudden advance near the eastern town of Dobropillya and a 10 km advance in a short period of time.

Kim and Putin "confirmed their commitment to further developing friendly relations, good-neighborliness, and cooperation," according to a Kremlin statement.

Putin informed the North Korean leader about preparations for the summit in Alaska, sharing with him "information in the context of the upcoming negotiations with US President Donald Trump."

Reiterating his earlier statement, Putin "praised the assistance provided by [North Korea] during the liberation of the Kursk region," according to his office.

The Ukrainian army briefly entered Russia's Kursk region last year in a surprise offensive that showed Western allies its ability to respond to Russia, which currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine's territory.

Putin and Kim spoke just days before the Russian leader left for Alaska, where he will meet with Trump. This will be his first face-to-face meeting with a US president since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The war, which led to Russia's almost complete economic and diplomatic isolation from the West, has resulted in unprecedented cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

According to Ukraine and South Korea, at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to fight alongside their Russian counterparts.

North Korea has also provided Russia with missiles, artillery shells, and workers.

With many Russian soldiers killed, wounded, or having fled the country, Moscow is increasingly relying on North Korean workers. | BGNES