North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has declared that his country will “always be with Moscow,” while praising Russian President Vladimir Putin in a letter released by state media on Wednesday.
The growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with North Korea reportedly supplying troops and military equipment in support of the war effort.
In return, analysts say Russia has provided food assistance and military technology to the isolated state.
“I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as President of the State Affairs,” Kim said in the message dated Tuesday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
North Korea’s rubber-stamp parliament recently reappointed Kim as head of the country’s top governing and policy-making body.
“Today, the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries,” Kim said, referring to North Korea by its official name.
“Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will,” he added.
Intelligence assessments from South Korea and Western agencies suggest North Korea has deployed thousands of soldiers to Russia, mainly to the Kursk region, alongside artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.
Reports estimate that about 2,000 North Korean troops have been killed, with thousands more wounded in the conflict.
In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim signed a military agreement in Pyongyang committing both countries to provide immediate military support if either is attacked.
Kim’s latest message comes as Belarusian state media reported that President Alexander Lukashenko is expected to visit North Korea for a two-day trip starting Wednesday to strengthen bilateral ties.
Both Pyongyang and Minsk have backed Russia in the Ukraine war, aligning themselves against Western nations.
