North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin in which he described the relations between the two countries as “valuable common wealth”. North Korean state media reported on Saturday. TASR writes about it according to a report by the agencies Jonhap and AFP.
Kim’s letter arrived a few days after Putin sent a similar New Year’s greeting the North Korean leader. In his greeting, the KĹDR leader described 2025 as “significant” as, in his words, the two countries “continually wrote a magnificent biography of the alliance” through “full mutual support and selfless encouragement”.the North Korean News Agency (KCNA) reported.
“I think that today’s alliance between the DPRK and Russia is a precious common property that must be preserved not only for the present, but also for future generations,” wrote the North Korean leader.
He added that he strengthened the bilateral alliance between the countrieso “sharing blood, life and death in the same trench”, while alluding to sending North Korean troops to Russia on support of the military campaign against Ukraine.
North Korea and Russia deepen their military cooperation since the meeting in Pyongyang in June 2024, when Putin and Kim signed a contract on “comprehensive strategic partnership”. Since last year, North Korea has sent approx 15,000 soldierswrites the South Korean news agency Jonhap. The DPRK also supplied the Russian army with artillery ammunition and missile systems.
In return, Russia sends North Korea financial aid, military technology, and supplies of food and energyanalysts say. South Korean intelligence also estimates that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers died serving alongside the Russian army. North Korea confirmed sending its troops to Russia only in April, when it also admitted the loss of life.
