{
  "id": 7416396,
  "title": "North Korea’s Kim pledges ‘invariable support’ in Putin letter",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/north-koreas-kim-pledges-invariable-support-in-putin-letter",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-14T22:49:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/15/north-korea-s-kim-pledges-invariable-support-in-putin-letter"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un expressed unwavering support for Russia in a letter addressed to President Vladimir Putin, referring to the ongoing war in Ukraine as a \"sacred\" endeavor, according to state media reports on Tuesday. Kim's letter, published by the official Korean Central News Agency, reaffirmed North Korea's commitment to Russia, stating that the will of both nations is resolute in expanding and enhancing joint efforts. Analysts suggest that North Korea has become a vital ally of Russia since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, providing troops, economic support, and military technology in exchange for benefits from the alliance. According to South Korea's intelligence agency, approximately 2,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in the conflict, while a more recent estimate puts the figure at around 6,000. Kim's letter emphasized his dedication to the Russian Federation's success, vowing to bolster cooperation between the two countries in a comprehensive manner. The letter arrives as North Korea is reportedly considering sending additional troops to bolster Russia's war effort against Ukraine, with Kyiv estimating that up to 50,000 North Korean soldiers may join the Russian forces. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky requested South Korea to provide air defense systems to safeguard against Russian missile strikes, but Seoul has yet to fulfill this request.",
  "summary": "The letter comes amid speculation that Pyongyang is poised to send more troops to Russia to aid its war effort against Ukraine.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "North Korea’s Kim pledges ‘invariable support’ in Putin letter",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/14/north-koreas-kim-pledges-invariable-support-in-putin-letter-7417110",
        "published": "2026-09-14T22:49:10.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Kim Jong Un vows unwavering support for Putin, calls Russia’s Ukraine war sacred",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/kim-jong-un-vows-unwavering-support-for-putin-calls-russias-ukraine",
        "published": "2026-09-15T01:19:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}