North Korea’s Kim tells Putin he is ‘proud’ of strong ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed pride in the strong ties between his country and Russia, state media reported on Sunday. In a letter to Russian president Vladimir Putin, Kim highlighted the positive future of bilateral relations, stating that the DPRK-Russia partnership has advanced the history of common struggle. DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.

Kim further expressed confidence in Russia's continued success and territorial integrity under Putin's leadership. Meanwhile, Russian President Putin confirmed that the relationship between their nations has achieved an "unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership," noting robust cooperation across various sectors to ensure regional security and stability.

The exchange of letters comes after Ukraine accused Russia of launching North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that resulted in at least nine deaths and numerous injuries. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also alleged that up to 50,000 North Korean troops might deploy to Russia, though he did not provide evidence or a specific timeline.

Ukrainian President Zelensky requested air defense systems from Seoul to safeguard against Russian missiles, but the request has yet to be fulfilled.