Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the North Korean forces dispatched to assist in Ukraine as “heroic” in a letter to Kim Jong Un, as reported by North Korean state media on Friday.
In his correspondence, which commemorated the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese domination, Putin reflected on the collaboration between Soviet Red Army troops and North Korean soldiers in the fight against Japan’s colonial rule.
“The bonds of military camaraderie, goodwill, and mutual support that were established during the wartime decades ago remain strong and dependable to this day,” Putin noted in the letter that was disclosed by North Korean state outlets.
“This was evidenced by the valiant involvement of DPRK troops in liberating the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces,” he remarked, according to the KCNA news agency.
“The Russian populace will forever cherish the memories of their courage and sacrifice.”
Putin emphasized that the two nations would continue to “collaborate effectively to safeguard their sovereignty and meaningfully contribute to the establishment of a fair and multipolar world order.”
This letter coincided with a visit from a Russian delegation to Pyongyang, where State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin expressed gratitude to Kim for sending “outstanding soldiers” to aid in Ukraine, as reported by KCNA.
Kim, in turn, stated that the delegation’s visit would foster “a new level of development in DPRK-Russia relations.”
He also revealed that he had spoken with Putin by phone on Wednesday, agreeing to enhance bilateral cooperation and promote “closer interactions and communication between the two nations.”
Russia and North Korea are strengthening their ties, having signed a mutual defense agreement last year during Putin’s visit to the secretive nation.
In April, North Korea publicly acknowledged for the first time that it had deployed a contingent of soldiers to the frontlines in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.
Both South Korean and Western intelligence sources have indicated that Pyongyang sent over 10,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region in 2024, as well as artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems.
Reports from Seoul indicate that approximately 600 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives and thousands more have been injured while fighting for Russia.
