Kim Jong Un vows to deepen ties with Russia in message to Putin
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the deepening of ties between North Korea and Russia in a message to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Reuters wrote on Aug. 17, citing North Korean state media.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un conveyed his desire to strengthen relationships with Russia in a message to Kremlin head Vladimir Putin, according to Reuters' report on August 17. The North Korean despot's address came in response to Putin's greetings commemorating the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. Putin stated that the bilateral ties were established during the Soviet soldiers' struggle against Japan, and that cooperation would proceed in all areas.
Kim expressed optimism about the future growth of these ties, asserting that they upheld the legacy of a joint fight for justice and cherished traditions of friendship. In July, news emerged that Russia and North Korea were nearing completion of a bridge spanning the Tumen River, marking the first-ever direct vehicular road connection between the two nations.
The bridge, measuring about one kilometer in length and seven meters in width, includes two traffic lanes and is part of a wider 4.7-kilometer transport link featuring access roads. Both countries have openly discussed the bridge project, claiming it aims to boost trade and tourism. On August 5, Reuters cited Ukrainian military intelligence representative Andriy Chernyak, who reported that North Korea was sending a missile unit to Russia to attack Ukraine.
This unit might consist of up to 120 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles and six launchers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on July 25 that Ukraine had credible intelligence on Russian plans for the autumn, suggesting that Russia was poised to receive an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea. On March 16, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that North Korea might have earned up to $14.4 billion from sending its troops to Russia and selling weapons to the aggressor country.
The report estimated that North Korea had dispatched troops to Russia four times since October 2024, totaling over 20,000 soldiers. Earnings from troop deployments, such as soldier pay and death compensation, are estimated at $620 million, with the potential to generate around $560 million annually if the current trend continues.
Written by urgent.news from New Voice of Ukraine's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
