North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stated that the war in Ukraine has created “blood ties” between Pyongyang and Moscow, in a New Year message addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Kim, 2025 represents a pivotal moment in the alliance between the two countries, forged through fighting together in the same trenches.
State media agency KCNA reported that Kim referred to the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers to Russia’s Kursk region in August, emphasizing that military cooperation between the two sides has intensified significantly. During a reception held on December 13 for the Army Engineering Regiment, Kim announced that nine North Korean soldiers were killed during a 120-day mission in Russia.
Since the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened their military cooperation. According to Reuters, North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery shells and missiles, while in return it has received military technology, as well as economic, food, and energy assistance.
