N. Korea’s Kim pledges ‘invariable support’ in Putin birthday letter

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a birthday letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin pledging his "invariable support" for Russia, according to state media. Kim hailed Moscow's war in Ukraine as a "sacred" endeavor. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has emerged as a crucial ally of the Kremlin, dispatching troops to bolster Moscow's military campaign in exchange for economic gains and military technology.

South Korea's intelligence agency estimated that approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers had lost their lives in the conflict, with a recent assessment placing the toll at around 6,000 killed or wounded. In the letter, Kim expressed his pleasure in fostering a strong friendship with Putin, signaling a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Kim reiterated his unwavering support for Russia, stating his firm conviction that the Russian people's "sacred war of justice" would ultimately lead to victory. The letter emerges amid strained South Korean-Ukrainian relations following revelations that two captured North Korean soldiers had been transferred to Seoul's custody.

Seoul condemned the disclosure, deeming the transfer confidential, complicating Kyiv's efforts to secure weapons aid. South Korea has thus far refrained from providing lethal weaponry to Ukraine, citing a domestic prohibition on military support to countries engaged in warfare. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested that Pyongyang may send additional troops to Russia to aid its conflict with Ukraine.