North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, has pledged what he described as “unconditional” support for Russian President, Vladimir Putin, signalling a further tightening of ties between Pyongyang and Moscow amid the protracted war in Ukraine.
State-run Korean Central News Agency reported on Friday that Kim made the declaration in a letter addressed to Putin, in which he praised the Russian leader and underscored what he called an enduring bond between both countries.
According to the agency, Kim said he felt “true comradely relations” from Putin and described North Korea’s relationship with Russia as its “most precious” diplomatic partnership. He stressed that cooperation between the two nations would continue to expand across several sectors.
“I will unconditionally respect and unconditionally support all your policies and decisions,” Kim was quoted as saying, adding that his commitment to Russia was “constant and permanent”.
The message was reportedly sent in response to a letter from Putin, though details of the Russian leader’s correspondence were not disclosed by North Korean state media.
The latest exchange comes against the backdrop of growing military cooperation between the two countries. South Korean and Western intelligence agencies have accused Pyongyang of deploying thousands of troops to support Russian forces, as Moscow sustains its offensive nearly four years after launching its invasion of Ukraine.
Both leaders had earlier exchanged New Year messages, during which Kim claimed North Korea and Russia had shared “blood, life and death” in the Ukraine conflict. Putin, in turn, reportedly hailed what he called the “invincible friendship” between the two nations.
Analysts note that Pyongyang has stepped up missile tests in recent years, moves widely seen as efforts to sharpen precision strike capabilities, challenge the United States and South Korea, and test weapons systems believed to be destined for export to Russia.
Beyond troop deployment, North Korea is also alleged to have supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems. In exchange, analysts say Moscow has been providing Pyongyang with financial assistance, military technology, as well as food and energy supplies.
The deepening alliance has raised fresh concerns among Western powers, who view the partnership as a strategic threat with implications for security on both the Korean Peninsula and the European front.
