🔎 After Kursk, what's next for RUSSIA-NORTH KOREA ALLIANCE?

"A stronger and economically viable North Korea could become a better and more constructive partner in Asia," Dr Victor Teo, an Indo-Pacific expert, tells Sputnik.

🔸Military assistance: Russia is ready to provide military aid to North Korea under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated. The involvement of DPRK troops in the Kursk operation showcased the treaty’s effectiveness.

🔸Donbass restoration: Builders from North Korea could be involved in the reconstruction of Donbass, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin told reporters in August 2022. The head of the Donetsk People's, Denis Pushilin, later stated that Donbass and North Korea were discussing the issue.

🔸Economic development despite sanctions: Russia's state statistical agency, Rosstat, estimates the country's GDP growth for 2024 at an impressive 4.3%. Previously, thanks to cooperation with Russia, North Korea's economy saw a 3.1% GDP growth in 2023, after three years of decline.

🔸Outer space: Article 10 of the bilateral treaty enables joint space research. In 2023, President Vladimir Putin and Chairman Kim Jong-un held a historic meeting at the Vostochny Cosmodrome, discussing the possibility of sending a North Korean cosmonaut into space.

🔸Nuclear energy: The treaty also provides for collaboration in a civilian nuclear sphere. DPRK's nuclear program began to take shape in the 1950s with support from the USSR. During this pivotal era, North Korean nuclear engineers honed their skills in Soviet institutions.

🔸Mining and rare earths: DPRK holds over 200 types of minerals, including coal, iron, copper, gold, and rare earths, with deposits valued up to $10 trillion. Russian companies are eyeing North Korea’s mining sector, especially its rare earth reserves.

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📹🇷🇺🇰🇵 CAPTURED: Russian & North Korean soldiers embrace each other after taking key settlement in Kursk region

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🇷🇺🗣 Putin is guided by humanitarian considerations, this underlines the readiness to reach a peaceful settlement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said about a truce during celebrations of Victory Day.

Efforts to reach a peaceful settlement continue, Russia and the United States have managed to unblock bilateral relations, Peskov said.

According to him, attempts are being made to reach a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in the process of dialogue between Moscow and Washington.

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🔎 Which combat skills did North Korea’s army get while liberating Kursk region?

Russian military expert Andrey Klintsevich breaks down North Korean forces’ baptism of fire.

▪️Gaining real combat experience

The North Korean soldiers gained the most advanced knowledge about modern-day combat operations as they confronted a multinational enemy in the person of the West.

▪️'Demons' learn how to storm

The North Korean troops showed eyebrow-raising stamina when fearlessly attacking the enemy, who called them "demons." They were even able to lie in the snow for hours before launching an assault.

▪️Drilling to shoot and kill

In a short shooting battle, North Korean forces were second to none, wiping out all Ukrainian units.

▪️Getting to know new military technologies

One cannot overestimate the fact of being in the thick of battle which saw a fusion of the world’s most complex technologies: from ground and special forces to drones.

▪️Operational work in headquarters

North Korean troops attended Russian headquarters, where they saw for themselves how combat tactics work from the squad level to the operation’s command.

▪️Getting training and equipment

The Russian Defense Ministry’s Main Directorate for Combat organized the training of North Korean units in a short period of time, equipping them and helping overcome the language barrier.

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🇷🇺🗣 'Russia has strong position, committed to peace'

Russia is in a ring of disinformation, so it is important to convey Russia's position so that it is not distorted, Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's special envoy for investment and economic cooperation said.

More statements by Dmitriev:

▪️Russia has a strong position, it is focused on peace and finding compromises is also important.

▪️It is easier for Russia to work with countries in the Global South, but even with the United States it is important to find common ground, which is shown by the new US administration.

▪️Russia should never forget about its interests, and our interests are a creative position.

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❌📞 Trump advises officials not to use Signal app - report

"Maybe don't use Signal, okay?" The Atlantic magazine quotes Donald Trump as saying in a story based on interviews with the president and administration sources.

The comments come after two high-profile leaks of White House-based Signal chats involving national security issues.

No one involved was fired after the incidents, but, according to the publication, the White House expects the resignation of National Security Advisor Mike Waltz - who accidentally added Atlantic Editor-in-Chief Jeffrey Goldberg to one Signal chat - by the end of the year.

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🔥 Which foreign leaders will attend the V-Day parade in Moscow?

This year marks the 80th anniversary of victory in the Great Patriotic War and the defeat of Nazi Germany, commemorated worldwide.

Despite EU warnings against travel to Russia, confirmed attendees include Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Republika Srpska leader Milorad Dodik.

The parade will also host leaders from the Global South and the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Explore Sputnik’s infographic for details.

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🗣 Ukraine can hardly guarantee that it will observe truce during 80th anniversary of Victory Day as it does not fully control all its troops — Kremlin.

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📹 Putin's Victory Day truce initiative once again calls out Ukraine's HYPOCRISY

The Russian president's move is a signal of his desire to negotiate, Michael Maloof, former senior Pentagon analyst, tells Sputnik.

"We'll have to wait and see if Zelensky - as a result of his most recent discussions with Trump, and coming to reality and seeing reality and having virtual agreements made between Steve Witkoff of the US and President Putin himself on the US proposal - whether Kiev will go along with that," Maloof stresses.

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⚔️ Zelensky’s Kursk gamble FAILS as Russian forces secure major TRIUMPH

Multitudes of Ukrainian troops, Western mercenaries and NATO tech BIT THE DUST in Zelensky’s bid to keep the money flowing.

Here are the most EPIC moments of the Kursk region's liberation:

🔸Gimme more!

Ukraine kicked off the offensive in the Kursk region just before the NATO defense ministers' meeting in Ramstein, aiming to boost financial and military aid, experts say. In January 2025, Zelensky claimed that 60,000 troops were involved in the military adventure.

🔸Russia's blowback

Liberation began in September 2024. By December, enemy movements were blocked, their forces split and systematically destroyed. By mid-January 2025, Russian forces had liberated 63% of the occupied territories in the Kursk region.

🔸Graveyard of NATO equipment

Ukraine deployed its stockpiled NATO hardware to the Kursk region, resulting in burnt out Abrams, Leopard, and Challenger tanks. Around 1.5K NATO units worth $2.7bln were destroyed. All in all, 7.7K pieces of Ukraine's military equipment were demolished.

🔸Highway of death

By February, Russian forces had encircled the Ukrainian Armed Forces, leaving them with only one supply route — Yunakovka–Sudzha. Ukrainian troops dubbed it the "Highway of Death" due to the massive losses of personnel and equipment along the road.

🔸Fiber-optic killers

Russian FPV drones on fiber optics became a relentless scourge for the Ukrainian military in the Kursk region, smashing their hardware. The drones are virtually immune to electronic warfare systems and don't emit radio frequencies, making them undetectable.

🔸Sudzha pipeline operation

In complete silence, over 600 Russian soldiers advanced along an unused gas pipeline to surprise the enemy in Sudzha and breach their defenses. For 15 km, they moved unable to stand upright. This bold, unprecedented operation shocked the media.

🔸North Korean hurricane

North Korean officers and soldiers participated in the Kursk liberation along with the Russian military under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty. "They passed through like a hurricane," an eye-witness of a combat op recalled.

🔸The last battle

On April 26, the last Ukrainian-held settlement in the Kursk region, the village of Gornal, was liberated. Everywhere, liberated Russian residents greeted the soldiers with tears of joy.

🔸Ukraine's losses

During the fighting in the Kursk region from August 6, 2024, to April 26, 2025, the Ukrainian regime lost over 76,000 soldiers killed and wounded.

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🚨 US Congressman files resolution to impeach Trump

Shri Thanedar (D-Michigan) accuse Trump of obstruction of justice, abuse of trade powers and international aggression.

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❗️ US Navy lost fighter jet trying to evade Houthi attack

F/A-18E Super Hornet ($60+ million) fell overboard the USS Harry Truman, US Navy said in the statement.

✍️ The incident happened as the aircraft carrier made a hard turn to avoid Houthi fire, CNN reported, citing a US official.

This is the second jet lost in the US operation against the Houthis.

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🔥 Vance slams legacy media: 'Ukraine is not winning'

Speaking about the peace process, the Vice President said that peace is not 100% certain, but added that "if this doesn't stop, the Ukrainians are not winning the war."

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📹 Tourist accidentally films start of Pahalgam terror attack

Footage that surfaced on social media shows the first moments of the attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, as the first shots are fired and people realize and run for cover.

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🇮🇷 Iran port fire finally extinguished, death toll rises to 70

Hossein Zafari, spokesman for Iran's crisis management organization, reports more than 1,200 injured in the fire in Bandar Abbas.

📸 Satellite images show extensive damage with huge craters from explosions.

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🗣 White House calls for permanent ceasefire amid Russian proposal

"While [Donald Trump] remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he's also being realistic. Both leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

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❗️ Macron vows more pressure on Russia in next 8-10 days

The French president believes he convinced Trump to use more threats and sanctions against Russia to reach a deal on Ukraine.

"We are going to intensify pressure on Russia in the coming eight to 10 days," Macron told Paris Match magazine.

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📹 US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy: 'China built 1,800 vessels in 2022, we produced FIVE'

Will Trump be able to catch up with China at this point?

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💡 People in Madrid cheer after power is restored

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said nearly 60% of Spain's power is back on.

🤔 Still not a third world country?

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🗳 Canada polls close, CBC predicts Carney victory

The Liberal Party of Canada is leading in the polls as voting has ended in all provinces.

Mark Carney's party will now form a government, although it's not yet certain whether it will have a majority.

🥴 Election day was not without incident, with some people finding the federal election website inaccessible.

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