Putin celebrates his 74th birthday and has already received his first wishes. They talk about a "holy" war

The letter was published today, October 7 - Putin's 74th birthday - by North Korea's state-owned Korean Central News Agency.

"I am glad that I have established good friendship with you and we are opening a new chapter in the development of relations between our countries," Kim wrote, as quoted by KCNA.

He said strengthening the "comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance" with Russia remains the North Korean government's permanent policy and promised continued support for Putin and the Russian Federation.

Kim also said he was confident that what he called the Russian people's "holy war for justice" would end in victory.

Alliance between Pyongyang and the Kremlin

As "Kyiv Post" reminds, since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have developed far beyond diplomatic declarations. The countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement during Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024. There is a mutual defense clause, which has significantly expanded military cooperation. North Korea later sent thousands of troops to Russia. Most of them are fighting - along with Putin's troops - in the Kursk Oblast.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service estimated earlier this year that about 6,000 people were killed or wounded in the "special military operation" - as Russia calls the war in Ukraine. North Korean soldiers. It was also estimated that about 10,000 were deployed in the Kursk Oblast. North Korean combat soldiers and a thousand engineers.