North Korean and Russian leaders in call to reaffirm alignment over Ukraine

Kim Jong Un has sent around 15,000 troops to Russia since last autumn and also supplied large quantities of military equipment (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian president Vladimir Putin held a phone call to discuss their deepening ties and war efforts against Ukraine, the countries’ state media said.

The call came ahead of Mr Putin’s planned meeting with US president Donald Trump in Alaska.