N. Korea's Kim vows to deepen ties with Russia in reply to Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to further strengthen and broaden joint endeavors with Russia, according to a message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to state media on Tuesday. This follows a period of increasing military and economic cooperation between the two nations. In his response to Putin's congratulatory message on North Korea's 78th founding anniversary, which took place on September 9, Kim expressed his profound gratitude towards the Russian president.

The letter, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), detailed Kim's unwavering commitment to expanding and deepening the cooperative efforts between the two countries. The letter emphasized the tradition of friendship, good neighborliness, mutual aid, and the strong alliance bond between North Korea and Russia. While Kim did not specify the specifics of the joint work, it is inferred that the focus would likely be on enhancing military and economic ties between the two nations.

Kim also affirmed that the two countries are consistently "writing a new biography of the great history of alliance" in the face of an "uneven historical storm," and pledged to provide steadfast support.