The leader of the Asian nation has lauded the “genuine alliance” between Pyongyang and Moscow in a New Year’s message to Vladimir Putin
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has delivered New Year’s greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, describing the past year as “truly meaningful” for relations between Moscow and Pyongyang.
In a Saturday statement from KCNA, Kim noted that the relationship was deepened by “sharing blood” on the frontlines of the Ukraine conflict.
Earlier in the year, North Korean troops—operating under the June 2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty—assisted Russian forces in fending off a major Ukrainian incursion in the Kursk Region. Though the number of troops wasn’t revealed, Russian officials commended their contribution and stated that a Moscow monument will pay tribute to those who died defending the nation’s territory.
“The year 2025—marked by enduring moments that will forever be inscribed in the history of our bilateral relations—was truly meaningful,” Kim was quoted as saying, highlighting the increasing “mutual support and selfless aid” between the two countries. “Relations have been further cemented as the most authentic alliance, forged through shared blood and the trials of life-and-death struggles on a common front.”
Kim emphasized that “no one can fracture the relations” between Moscow and Pyongyang, which are united by the “shared resolve and strength to uphold the just aspirations of the era and correct the course of history.” He further noted that Russia-North Korea relations are “a valuable shared asset” that must be safeguarded “for future generations.”
Last week, Putin also extended New Year’s greetings to the North Korean leader, stating that the deepening bilateral ties would “aid in establishing a fair multipolar world order.” He expressed gratitude to Pyongyang for its military support in Kursk, pointing out that the “heroic deployment” of North Korean troops into combat and the efforts of their combat engineers had “clearly demonstrated the unbreakable friendship” between the two peoples. He added that collaboration would keep expanding across political, trade, economic, humanitarian, and other areas.