Kim Jong Un 'proud' of relationship with Russia in letter to Vladimir Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was “proud” of his relationship with Russia in a letter sent to President Vladimir Putin, Pyongyang's official agency reported on Sunday, as Ukraine accuses him of preparing a new deployment of soldiers to support Moscow.

North Korea has already engaged directly with Russia in its war against Ukraine, sending troops and weapons. “I am always proud to be able to envisage an even better future in bilateral relations by leading, with you, the DPRK (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, editor's note)-Russia ties which have perpetuated the history of our common struggle,” enthused Kim Jong Un, according to a report from the state agency KCNA.

The North Korean leader also reaffirmed his support for Moscow in its war against Ukraine, saying he was confident that his ally would prevail under the “wise leadership” of Vladimir Putin. The latter sent a letter to Kim Jong Un on Friday on the occasion of the 81st anniversary of the Liberation of Korea from Japanese occupation. In this message, he welcomed a bilateral relationship at a “high, unprecedented level of global strategic partnership”.

Pyongyang and Moscow have grown considerably closer since the launch of the Russian offensive against Ukraine in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently accused the North of preparing to send between 30,000 and 50,000 additional troops to support Russian forces, without specifying the origin of these figures or a potential timetable.

On Tuesday, he also claimed that Russia had carried out deadly strikes with North Korean ballistic missiles. The leader called on South Korea to cooperate with kyiv, particularly on air defense systems. Seoul has not responded at this stage.