The dictator of North Korea Kim Jong-unpraised this Saturday the close alliance with the Kremlin in the context of the war in Ukraine and declared that both countries are “together”.Blood, life and death” in the war conflict that began in 2022 from Russia.
The message is addressed to the Russian President Vladimir Putin and distributed by the state authority KCNAadded New Year’s greetings and emphasized that 2025 will be a “really important year” for bilateral relations strengthened by cooperation on the battlefield.
According to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to help Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine, which is nearing its fourth year.
North Korea confirmed in April that it was sending troops to support Russian military operations and acknowledged there had been casualties in the fight. This month, Pyongyang admitted sending mine-clearing soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in August 2025, where at least nine soldiers from an engineer regiment died during a 120-day operation, Kim said in a Dec. 12 speech.
The message to Putin came a day after the North Korean leader ordered an increase in missile production. North Korea has stepped up missile testing in recent years to improve the precision of its weapons, challenge the United States and South Korea and test systems before exporting them to Russia, analysts said.
In addition to sending troops, Pyongyang supplied Putin’s troops with artillery shells, rockets and long-range missile systems. In return, Russia continues to provide North Korea with financial aid, military technology, food and energy, experts say.
State press reported on Friday that Jong-un ordered to expand and modernize missile production next year and also begin building new factories to meet the armed forces’ growing demand. The order came to light after the dictator visited munitions facilities with high-ranking regime officials.
The North Korean leader ordered factories to increase their production capacity to meet U.S. demands Korean People’s Army. During the tour, the leader emphasized the strategic importance of the defense industry for national defense. “The missile and projectile production sector is of paramount importance to strengthening war deterrence,” Kim said.
“The heroic efforts of soldiers of the Korean People’s Army in the battles to liberate the Kursk region from the occupiers and the subsequent activities of Korean engineers on the land of Russia clearly demonstrated the invincible friendship,” the Russian leader wrote, according to the version broadcast by KCNA.
Putin He also mentioned the contract signed during his official visit Pyongyang in June last year and assured that the provisions of the “historic Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” between the two countries had been fulfilled “thanks to our joint efforts.”
The agreement contains a mutual defense clause that requires Russia and North Korea to provide immediate military assistance if either side faces armed aggression.
(With information from AFP)
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