North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged 'permanent' support for policies by Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to North Korea's state media on Friday, Kim expressed unconditional support in a letter to Putin. This comes as military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow has been reinforced.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin on January 8, 2026, pledging to unconditionally respect and support all of Putin's policies and decisions. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim stated, "I will unconditionally respect and unconditionally support all your policies and decisions and I have a willingness to be always with you for the sake of you and your Russia." He added, "This choice will be constant and permanent."
The letter was a reply to a congratulatory message from Putin, which KCNA suggested was likely sent on Kim's birthday, January 8. Kim emphasized, "I have come to feel once again the true comradely relations between us and availing myself of this opportunity, I'd like to emphasize that I regard the friendly relations with you as the most precious ones and (a source of) pride." He thanked Putin for the letter, describing it as an expression of friendship and trust toward him and the North Korean people, and wished greater success in all of Putin's important undertakings.
This exchange follows a meeting between Kim and Putin at the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing on September 3, 2025. Amid reinforced military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, the KCNA highlighted the bilateral ties as a 'precious common asset'.
