Kim Jong Un with Vladimir Putin
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un exchanged letters with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday, vowing to strengthen ties and wishing him victory over what he called hegemony and pressure from imperialists.
The letters commemorate the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations and arrived around a month after Kim’s unusual trip to Russia, during which he and Putin discussed military cooperation, particularly North Korea’s satellite programme, and the Ukraine war.
Kim stated in his letter that he was extremely pleased with their candid, comprehensive discussions during the visit. He promised to take relations to a new height and wished Putin success in defying Western pressure over Ukraine.
“I hope that the Russian people, who have set out to build a strong nation, will always achieve only victory and glory in their struggle to protect the country’s sovereignty, dignity, security, and peace by crushing the imperialists’ persistent hegemonic policy and anti-Russia scheme to isolate and stifle it”, the North Korean leader wrote.
In his message to Kim, Putin stated that their recent meeting was another proof of developing ties.
“I am convinced that implementing the agreements will contribute to further expanding the constructive bilateral cooperation for improving the well-being of the peoples of the two countries and ensuring security and stability in the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia as a whole”, Putin wrote.
Kim’s visit has fueled US concerns that a resurrected Moscow-Pyongyang axis may reinforce Russia’s military in Ukraine and provide Kim with missile technology prohibited by United Nations resolutions.
Washington has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with weaponry for its war in Ukraine, including artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets, and missiles.
Pyongyang and Moscow have denied any arms deals, but have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation.
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