Kim Jong Un expresses 'firm support' for Vladimir Putin in Victory Day message

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has expressed “firm support and solidarity” with Russia in a congratulatory message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin over Victory Day, state media reported Thursday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim extended his “warm congratulations and comradely greetings” to Putin in the message celebrating the 79th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s World War II victory over Nazi Germany.

Kim touted Putin as leading efforts to defend Russia’s sovereignty against “vicious challenges and threats of the hostile forces,” apparently pointing to Moscow’s war with Ukraine.

“I express firm support and solidarity with the sacred cause of Russia, hoping that you and the brave Russian army and people would win fresh victory in the struggle to defeat the imperialists’ hegemonic policy,” KCNA quoted Kim as saying.

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Earlier this week, the North Korean leader conveyed his congratulations to Putin on the commencement of his fifth term as Russia’s leader. Putin embarked on his fifth term on Tuesday, prolonging his 24-year tenure by another six years following a resounding victory in the March election.

The cooperation between North Korea and Russia has been intensifying, with both nations strengthening military ties and bilateral relations since the summit between Kim and Putin in September last year.

According to The Korea Herald, the unification ministry in Seoul said that Kim has extended his congratulations to Putin on Victory Day for the third consecutive year since Russia’s conflict with Ukraine in 2022. Previously, the North did so only on Russia’s anniversaries whose final numbers end in a five or zero, added the report.

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“North Korea appears to be trying to show off its close ties with Russia and creating the atmosphere (to prepare for) Putin’s trip to North Korea,” The Korea Herald quoted a ministry official as saying to reporters.

North Korea has been accused by the US and others of transferring weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations, but vowed last year to deepen military relations.

The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on 2 January was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, according to Reuters, citing United Nations sanctions monitors telling a Security Council committee in a report.

With inputs from agencies