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In his letter to Kim, Putin recalled how Soviet and North Korean forces had once fought side by side to end Japanese occupation
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. (Kremlin Photo via AP)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has praised North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine as “heroic” in a letter sent to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to reports from state media in Pyongyang on Friday.
The letter, released on the anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule, highlighted the growing military and political ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. In it, Putin recalled how Soviet and North Korean forces had once fought side by side to end Japanese occupation, and said those bonds remain strong today.
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“The bonds of militant friendship, goodwill and mutual aid which were consolidated in the days of the war long ago remain solid and reliable even today,” Putin wrote.
He went on to praise what he described as the “heroic participation” of North Korean troops in the liberation of Russia’s Kursk region from what he called the “Ukrainian occupationists”.
“The Russian people will keep forever the memories of their bravery and self-sacrifice,” Putin added. He also pledged that Russia and North Korea would continue to act jointly, defend their sovereignty, and contribute to building a “just and multi-polarised world order.”
The letter comes as Russia and North Korea deepen their cooperation. In 2024, Pyongyang confirmed for the first time that it had deployed troops to fight in Ukraine alongside Russian forces.
Western and South Korean intelligence estimates suggest over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been sent to Russia’s Kursk region, along with military equipment including artillery shells and missile systems.
South Korea has claimed that around 600 North Korean troops have been killed in the fighting, with thousands more injured.
The message from Putin was accompanied by a visit from a Russian parliamentary delegation to Pyongyang, led by Duma speaker Vyacheslav Volodin. He thanked Kim for sending “excellent soldiers” to support Russian efforts and said their sacrifice would not be forgotten.
Kim Jong Un, in response, said the visit would help advance relations between the two countries to a “new level”. He also revealed that he had a recent phone call with Putin, where both leaders agreed to strengthen communication and cooperation.
The exchange comes just days ahead of Putin’s expected summit with US President Donald Trump in Alaska, as efforts continue to find a possible resolution to the war in Ukraine.
(With inputs from AFP)
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