Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the Day of Liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule, North Korean media reported, BTA reports.
In his letter, Putin welcomed the "heroism of North Korean soldiers" who participated in the battles on the side of the Russian forces against Ukraine. "The Russian people will forever remember their courage and sacrifice," the message states.
The head of state emphasized that the "bonds of military comradeship", forged "in a war a long time ago", remain "strong and reliable“. According to him, Russia and North Korea will continue to act together to protect their sovereignty and contribute to the establishment of a “just and multipolar world order“.
In recent years, Moscow and Pyongyang have been deepening their bilateral relations. Last year, during Putin's visit to the DPRK, the two countries signed a mutual defense treaty. In April, North Korea officially confirmed for the first time that it had sent soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in the conflict against Ukraine.