North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged continued support for Vladimir Putin and Russia, according to a letter published by state media on Wednesday.
The message highlights the growing ties between North Korea and Russia since the start of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, during which Pyongyang reportedly provided troops, artillery, and missile systems to assist Moscow. Analysts suggest this support is exchanged for food supplies and military technology from Russia.
“I express my sincere thanks for your warm congratulations on my reassumption of duties as President of the State Affairs,” Kim said in the letter, according to the Korean Central News Agency. He added that North Korea and Russia are “closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries” and that Pyongyang’s support for Moscow is “our choice and unshakable will.”
South Korean and Western intelligence estimates indicate that around 2,000 North Korean troops sent to Russia’s Kursk region have been killed, with thousands more wounded. This follows a military agreement signed by Kim and Putin in June 2024, committing both nations to provide assistance to each other if attacked.
The announcement coincides with reports that Alexander Lukashenko is scheduled to visit Pyongyang for talks on strengthening bilateral cooperation. Both North Korea and Belarus have aligned themselves with Russia in the ongoing war in Ukraine, positioning them as significant challengers to Western interests.
