Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Kim Jong Un Says He's 'Proud' of North Korea-Russia Ties
The leaders of two big countries, North Korea and Russia, wrote friendly letters to each other.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un, said he was proud of their friendship.
Russia's leader, Vladimir Putin, also said nice things about how well the two countries work together.
This friendship is important because North Korea is helping Russia in Russia's war with Ukraine.
Some experts say North Korea sent soldiers to help Russia fight.
In return, North Korea gets money and new military technology.
Ukraine says Russia used North Korean rockets in an attack that hurt many people.
Ukraine also says a lot more North Korean soldiers might come to Russia, but nobody has shown proof yet.
Ukraine asked South Korea for help to defend against Russian missiles, but South Korea has not answered yet.
Kim Jong Un told Vladimir Putin he is 'proud' of DPRK-Russia ties in a letter reported by state media on Sunday.
Putin, in a letter delivered Friday marking Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, called their partnership an 'unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership.'
North Korea has become a key Kremlin ally since Russia's 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending troops in exchange for economic benefits and military technology, analysts say.
Ukraine accused Moscow this month of launching North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens.
Kyiv claims up to 50,000 North Korean troops are due to deploy to Russia with no evidence or timeframe, and Zelensky's request to Seoul for air defence systems has gone unanswered.
- Who
- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters; Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is involved in related accusations.
- What
- Both leaders exchanged letters praising their countries' strong 'comprehensive strategic partnership' amid North Korea's military support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
- When
- State media reported the letter exchange on Sunday; Putin's letter was delivered on Friday to mark Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
- Where
- Between North Korea and Russia, with the war in Ukraine as the backdrop.
- Why
- To reaffirm bilateral ties and cooperation, as Russia seeks support for its war effort and North Korea gains economic benefits and military technology.
Ukraine
Russia and North Korea
North Korean weapons in Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine accuses Moscow of launching North Korean ballistic missiles in a strike that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens this month.
Russia and North Korea
Kim and Putin celebrate their countries' 'comprehensive strategic partnership,' with Putin saying both states are 'actively cooperating in all the sectors' to ensure regional security and stability.
North Korean troop deployment
Ukraine
Kyiv says up to 50,000 North Korean troops are due to deploy to Russia and has asked Seoul for air defence systems.
Russia and North Korea
No evidence or timeframe has been provided to back the deployment claim, and the request to South Korea has gone unanswered.
- Event
- Exchange of letters between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin
- Reported by
- Korean Central News Agency (KCNA)
- Putin's description of ties
- Unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership
- Context
- Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine since 2022
- North Korean military support
- Troops sent to support Moscow's war effort in return for economic benefits and military technology (analysts)
- Ukraine's missile accusation
- North Korean ballistic missiles used in a strike killing at least nine and wounding dozens this month
- Claimed troop deployment
- Up to 50,000 North Korean troops due to deploy to Russia, without evidence or timeframe
- Zelensky's request
- Asked South Korea to supply air defence systems; request unanswered