Read also: North Korean troops to become ‘cannon fodder’ if sent to Ukraine, Pentagon says North Korea expressed its readiness to “stand by Russia” in defense of its sovereignty, claiming that Ukraine’s actions were driven by U.S. and Western anti-Russian policies, pushing the world closer to World War III. Relations between North Korea and Russia have improved since 2023. In June 2024, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a comprehensive strategic partnership, which includes a mutual defense agreement. Read also: Ukrainian reconnaissance detects North Ko…