North Korea dictator Kim Jong Un said his country's involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war was justified, calling it an exercise of sovereign rights in defense of a "brother nation," the state-owned Korean Central News Agency reported Saturday.

"Our participation in the conflict was just, and it falls within the sovereign rights of our Republic," Kim said, according to the KCNA. "I consider all the brave soldiers who participated in the Kursk operation to be heroes and the highest representatives of the nation’s honor," he added.

Kim also said Pyongyang would not hesitate to authorize the use of military force if the U.S. persists in what he called military provocations against Russia.

North Korea did not officially confirm until late April that it sent more than 10,000 troops and weapons to Russia as the countries' military ties grew dramatically under a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin last year.