‘Pyongyang will always be with Moscow’: Kim signals strong backing as Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine

Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un that his country will always stand and show support for Russia amid the Russian drone attack on Ukraine, state media reported on Wednesday in a thank you letter to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.

The ties between the two nations developed since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang providing troops and weapons systems to aid Russia’s war efforts towards Kyiv.

Kim Jong Un reappointed as President of state affairs

Kim was reappointed as head of the authoritarian nation’s highest policy-making and governing body, the State Affairs Commission on Monday.

"I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as President of the State Affairs," Kim said in the message on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

More from World

North Korea's aid to Russia

According to analysts the aid was provided in exchange for Russia’s provision of food and weapons technologies.

"Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries," Kim said, using the initials of the North's official name.

Russian attack on Ukraine 

Russia staged nearly 1,000 drones at Ukraine in the last 24 hours and reopened one of its biggest-ever daytime attacks, authorities said.

“This is absolute depravity, and only someone like (Russian President Vladimir) Putin could find this appealing,” Zelensky said of the attack on the historic western city of Lviv on Tuesday.

Kim's unshakable will to support Russia

Kim showed utmost support for Moscow and said the country will always be there.

"Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will," he added.

South Korean and Western intelligence agencies estimated that around thousands of soldiers had been sent to Russia from North Korea, primarily to the Kursk region, along with artillery shells, missiles and long-range rocket systems.

South Korean estimates suggest that roughly 2,000 troops have been killed, with several thousand others wounded.

Military pact between Russia and North Korea 

The development comes after Russian President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a military pact during Putin’s June 2024 visit to Pyongyang, committing both nations to provide immediate military assistance if either is attacked.

Kim’s latest communication also follows reports from Belarusian state media that Alexander Lukashenko is set to visit North Korea for a two-day trip starting Wednesday, aimed at deepening bilateral ties.

Both Belarus and North Korea have backed Russia in its war on Ukraine and remain firmly opposed to Western alliances. North Korea has not officially confirmed Lukashenko’s visit.