Russia has celebrated the 80th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II, with President Vladimir Putin presiding over a massive parade of tanks, missiles and troops through Red Square.

While Putin hosted several world leaders, European ministers gathered in Ukraine to announce the formation of a war crimes tribunal targeting Russian officials.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said North Korea’s involvement in the Russia-Ukraine war was justified, calling it an exercise of sovereign rights in defence of a “brother nation,” state media KCNA reported on Saturday.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has said the North's deployment of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine was "justifiable," calling it an exercise of sovereign rights under a mutual defense treaty with Moscow,

Our participation in the conflict was fair and consistent with the sovereign rights of our Republic,” Kim said, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). He also referred to "the brave soldiers who took part in the Kursk operation" — a vague and historically out-of-context remark that appeared to glorify combatants allied with Russia —