Russian President Vladimir Putin described the bond between Russia and North Korea as an “invincible friendship” in a New Yr’s message to chief Kim Jong Un, in accordance with North Korea’s state-run Korean Central Information Company (KCNA).
The letter, delivered to Pyongyang final week (reportedly despatched on December 18), highlighted the function of North Korean troops supporting Russia’s army operations in Ukraine, significantly within the Kursk area, as proof of deep “militant fraternity” between the 2 international locations.
Western and South Korean intelligence estimates point out that North Korea deployed greater than 10,000 troopers to Russia in 2024, primarily to Kursk, together with substantial provides of artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket programs.
Putin wrote: “The heroic entry of troopers of the Korean Individuals’s Military into the battles for liberating the Kursk area from occupiers and the next actions of Korean engineers within the land of Russia clearly proved the invincible friendship.”
He additionally famous that the landmark complete strategic partnership treaty signed throughout his June 2024 go to to Pyongyang had been successfully applied by way of “joint efforts.”
The settlement features a mutual protection clause committing each side to rapid army help within the occasion of armed aggression in opposition to both. Putin added that strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow would assist construct “a simply order of the multi-polar world.”
Seoul’s Nationwide Intelligence Service estimates that round 2,000 North Korean troopers deployed to assist Russia have been killed in motion. North Korea formally acknowledged the troop deployment and fight deaths solely in April 2025.
Since then, Kim has publicly met with households of the fallen, expressing condolences for his or her “insufferable ache,” and state media has launched photographs displaying an emotional Kim comforting a returning soldier.
The strengthened Russia-North Korea alignment follows final yr’s army pact. Below South Korea’s earlier conservative administration led by Yoon Suk Yeol, Seoul had hinted it would rethink its long-standing coverage in opposition to supplying deadly arms to Ukraine, however no such deliveries have occurred.
Kim Jong Un Inspects Nuclear Submarine Web site
In a separate improvement reported by KCNA on the identical day, Kim Jong Un visited a nuclear-powered submarine development facility and supervised the test-firing of latest high-altitude, long-range anti-air missiles.
Throughout Wednesday’s tour of the submarine plant, Kim sharply criticized South Korea’s pursuit of nuclear-powered submarines in cooperation with the US, labeling it a direct “risk” that should be countered.
The push stems from an October 2025 settlement introduced by US President Donald Trump throughout a go to to South Korea, granting Seoul permission to develop such vessels.
Particulars stay sparse, together with development places and know-how switch, provided that nuclear submarine propulsion ranks among the many most carefully guarded army secrets and techniques, at present restricted to a handful of countries.
KCNA quoted Kim saying the deteriorating safety surroundings made it an “pressing activity and indispensable choice” to speed up the “nuclear weaponization of the naval pressure.”
He additionally reviewed progress on “new underwater secret weapons,” outlined plans to reorganize naval forces, and directed the creation of latest models.
In a parallel exercise, Kim oversaw the profitable take a look at of “new-type high-altitude long-range anti-air missiles” over the East Sea (Sea of Japan).
KCNA reported the missiles struck mock targets at an altitude of 200 km—inserting the intercept in house—with Kim extending congratulations on the result.
The visits and statements underscore North Korea’s accelerating efforts to modernize its navy and nuclear capabilities amid heightened regional tensions, together with the deepening army cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.
This comes as North Korea continues to border US-South Korea army strikes as provocative, whereas vowing to bolster its personal defenses in response.
By way of: AFP
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