Russian President Vladimir Putin said North Korea has sufficient nuclear capabilities to defend itself and has never sought Russia’s protection in exchange for providing soldiers for the war in Ukraine. 

“The DPRK does not need our nuclear umbrella,” Putin said in an interview with Russian state TV presenter Dmitry Kiselev, adding that North Korea has not asked Russia for anything.

Answering a question about whether Russia should ask the “2 million strong” Korean People’s Army to help fight in Ukraine, Putin said the current situation on the battlefield shows that Russian forces are “fulfilling the tasks” they face on the