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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin that he was “proud” of the increasingly close relationship between their countries, North Korean state media reported Sunday, as Pyongyang continues to support Moscow’s war against Ukraine.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has become a key ally of Moscow, sending troops to support Russia’s war effort in exchange for economic benefits and military technology, according to analysts.
“I am always proud to be able to expect a more excellent future of the bilateral relations by leading, together with you, the DPRK-Russia ties that have carried forward the history of common struggle,” Kim said in a letter to Putin, according to an English-language report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency, or KCNA.
DPRK refers to North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Kim also said he had a “firm belief” that Russia would prosper and defend its “territorial integrity” under what he described as Putin’s “wise leadership.”
Kim’s message followed a letter from Putin that was delivered Friday to mark Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II.
Putin said relations between Moscow and Pyongyang had reached an “unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership.”
“Our states are actively cooperating in all the sectors while making concerted efforts to ensure the regional security and stability,” Putin said.
The exchange underscored the close relationship between the two leaders as Russia and North Korea deepen their cooperation.
North Korea has supplied military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, including sending troops to aid Moscow’s forces.
The exchange of letters also comes after Ukraine accused Russia earlier this month of using North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens.
Kyiv has also recently claimed that as many as 50,000 additional North Korean troops could be deployed to Russia.
Ukraine has not provided evidence supporting the claim or specified a timeframe for any such deployment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made the claim while calling on South Korea to provide air defense systems to help protect Ukraine from Russian missile attacks.
South Korea has not responded to that request.
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