Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year's greeting message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on December 18, hailing the "heroic" dispatch of North Korean troops to Russia's war in Ukraine. The message highlighted the special significance of the past year in Moscow-Pyongyang relations. North Korea's state media reported it a week later, coinciding with Kim's inspection of a nuclear-powered submarine construction site.
Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a New Year's greeting message to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on December 18, as reported by North Korea's state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday. In the message, Putin praised the "heroic" dispatch of North Korean troops supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, noting that the past year held special significance for Moscow-Pyongyang relations.
"The past one year was of special significance in the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang," Putin said, referring to the entry of North Korean troops into the conflict. This development "clearly proved the invincible friendship and militant fraternity" between the two countries, he added.
Putin recalled the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by the two nations, stating it "has contributed to expanding remarkably the productive, bilateral cooperation in political, trade, economic, human and other fields." Looking ahead, he expressed conviction that "we will in the future, too, strengthen the relations of friendship and alliance in every way and conduct constructive cooperation on regional and international issues." Such efforts would serve the interests of their nations and "contribute to establishing a just order of the multi-polar world."
The pledge comes amid ongoing diplomatic pushes to end the Ukraine war, hinting at continued alignment between Russia and North Korea. The KCNA report, delayed by a week, appears timed to underscore the solidity of North Korea-Russia ties, released alongside news of Kim's inspection of a nuclear-powered submarine construction site. There, Kim reaffirmed that the country's nuclear forces aim to "permanently ensure the peaceful environment and absolute security," pledging to uphold the national security policy.
