Can North Korea's Kim Strengthen Alliance with Russia's Medvedev?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Kim Jong-un aims to fortify ties with Russia.
- The meeting coincided with the 80th anniversary of the WPK.
- Medvedev praised North Korean troops for their role in the Ukraine conflict.
- United Russia expressed support for North Korea's defense measures.
- The alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow is becoming increasingly significant.
Seoul, Oct 11 (NationPress) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expressed optimism to Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, about enhancing the collaboration between their nations, as reported by the North's state media on Saturday. This comes as Pyongyang has shown unwavering support for Moscow's military actions in Ukraine.
Kim met with Medvedev, who also heads the ruling United Russia party, the day prior and discussed topics of mutual interest, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
Kim expressed gratitude for Medvedev's visit, which coincided with the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea (WPK).
He indicated that Medvedev's presence would significantly contribute to advancing and evolving the elevated status of DPRK-Russia relations into a robust and comprehensive strategic partnership. Kim emphasized that the WPK and Russia's party should collaboratively enhance cooperation and engage in diverse exchanges.
In his remarks, Medvedev praised the “bravery and self-sacrificing spirit” of North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia in Ukraine, asserting that this demonstrated the strength of the fraternal bonds between the two nations and the resilience of their blood-forged alliance, as stated by the KCNA.
Medvedev was one of several foreign dignitaries invited to participate in North Korea's anniversary celebrations, which included Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Vietnam’s leader To Lam.
In a joint declaration with the WPK on Thursday, United Russia reiterated its “firm support” for North Korea's initiatives to enhance its defense capabilities. While the specifics were not disclosed, analysts suggest that Russia's ruling party appears to acknowledge North Korea's advancements in nuclear armament, as reported by the Yonhap news agency.
Earlier on October 7, Kim Jong-un conveyed to Russian President Vladimir Putin that their alliance “will be invariably carried forward in the future,” highlighting the deepening military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.