Will the Alliance between North Korea and Russia Endure?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Seoul, Oct 7 (NationPress) The leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-un, has conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that their alliance "will be invariably carried forward in the future," as military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow intensifies amid Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Kim articulated these sentiments in a letter congratulating Putin on his birthday, as reported by the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
"I firmly believe that the alliance between our two nations, which is currently experiencing a significant period of growth, will continue to thrive in the future due to our warm and friendly relations, as well as our close comradely ties. This will greatly contribute to the comprehensive development of our bilateral relations and the establishment of a fair and multipolar world order," Kim stated in his message to Putin, according to KCNA.
Since October of last year, North Korea is believed to have dispatched approximately 15,000 troops and weapons to support Russia's military endeavors, as per South Korea's intelligence agency.
In his letter, Kim also expressed his unwavering support for the "just struggle" of Russia in safeguarding its national sovereignty, seemingly alluding to Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier, on August 13, Kim Jong-un had affirmed his "full support" for Russia during a phone conversation with Putin, highlighting the deepening military collaboration between the two nations.
Kim and Putin conducted phone discussions the day prior, marking a significant disclosure by North Korea regarding its leader's communications with foreign leaders, as reported by KCNA.
Kim expressed his strong belief that the DPRK would consistently honor the spirit of the DPRK-Russia treaty and would fully back all actions taken by the Russian leadership moving forward, according to KCNA.
The acronym DPRK stands for the full name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.