N Korea, Russia bound in ‘blood’ of war, Kim tells Putin in New Year note

North Korean and Russian Leaders Exchange New Year’s Messages

In a recent exchange of greetings, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their countries’ strong ties, citing their shared experience in the Ukraine war. In his message to Putin, published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim described the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang as a “precious common asset” that should be preserved for future generations.

Kim’s statement followed Putin’s own New Year’s greeting to the North Korean leader on December 18, which praised the role played by Pyongyang’s troops in Russia’s western Kursk region. The Russian president acknowledged the “heroic” contributions of North Korean soldiers and highlighted the strength of their bilateral relationship.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap news agency, Kim’s message emphasized that the relations between Moscow and Pyongyang are unbreakable and that no one can disrupt the unity between the two peoples. This sentiment is echoed by reports from South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, which suggest that North Korea deployed thousands of troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

In a separate development, Kim instructed his officials to increase missile production and build more factories to produce munitions. The move comes as North Korea has stepped up missile testing in recent years, with analysts suggesting that this is aimed at improving the accuracy of its arsenal.

Source: Al Jazeera