North Korea's Kim tells Putin he is 'proud' of strong ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin he was "proud" of their countries’ strong ties, according to state media reports on August 16. The leaders' exchange of letters underscores the deepening relationship between the two nations, particularly as North Korea has provided military support for Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Analysts suggest that since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has become a key ally for the Kremlin. In return for sending troops to support Moscow's war effort, Pyongyang has received economic benefits and military technology. Kim's letter to Putin expressed a "firm belief" that Russia would thrive under Putin's leadership and defend its "territorial integrity."

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I am always proud to be able to expect more excellent future of the bilateral relations by leading, together with you, the DPRK-Russia ties that has carried forward the history of common struggle.

Putin, in a letter delivered to Kim on August 14, stated that relations between Russia and North Korea had reached an "unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership." He noted that both states actively cooperate in all sectors, working together to ensure regional security and stability.

This exchange follows Ukraine's accusation in August that Moscow had launched North Korean ballistic missiles, an attack that reportedly killed at least nine people and wounded dozens. Kyiv has also recently claimed that up to 50,000 North Korean troops are expected to deploy to Russia, though no evidence or timeframe has been provided. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has asked Seoul to supply air defense systems to counter Russian missiles, a request that South Korea has not yet answered.

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Our states are actively cooperating in all the sectors while making concerted efforts to ensure the regional security and stability.