Russian pop artist Shaman has unveiled a new song that lauds North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, performed during a concert in Pyongyang last week, as reported by Russian media and shared in video clips released late on Wednesday.

Shaman was part of a contingent of Russian performers, including singers and dancers, who were invited to entertain Kim at a celebration marking the 80th anniversary of North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party.

According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, “Kim Jong Un took to the stage to thank the Russian artists for their outstanding performance,” and they shared photographs from the event.

An excerpt from the song, released by a Russian pop culture Telegram channel on Wednesday, portrays Kim as a sagacious leader and a national hero.

“In the difficult years of war, as if from the same battalion, our two nations—Korea and Russia—became eternal comrades forged in battle,” Shaman sings. The complete three-minute version was later featured on the Telegram news channel Kontekst.

Since the onset of the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, North Korea has emerged as one of Russia’s closest allies.

According to Western intelligence officials, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with artillery shells and missiles, and last year, it dispatched troops to the southwestern Kursk region to assist in repelling Ukrainian forces.

Shaman’s first performance in Pyongyang occurred in August to celebrate the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. A similar rendition of his latest song was reportedly played at a rally in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine.

Known for his patriotic anthems such as “Ya Russky” (“I’m Russian”) and “Moi Boy” (“My Fight”), Shaman, whose real name is Yaroslav Dronov, has become an emblem of wartime nationalism in Russia.

He was denied entry to Canada, the European Union, and Australia in 2022. Reports indicate that he canceled several concerts in Russia to participate in last week’s performance at the Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang.