North Korea: Kim, the leader of labels the two countries’ relationship a “precious common asset” in his New Year’s letter to Putin

North Korea: Ahead of New Year’s Day, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un greeted Russian President Vladimir Putin, referring to their relationship as a “precious common asset,” according to the North’s official media on Saturday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim said in the message that the two nations “steadily wrote a great biography of the alliance” by “full mutual support and selfless encouragement,” making this year “meaningful.”

Kim’s welcome followed Putin’s December 18 New Year’s greeting to the North Korean leader.

Using the abbreviation for North Korea’s official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Kim said, “I think that today’s DPRK-Russia alliance … is a precious common asset to be carried forward forever not only in the present era but also by posterity generation after generation.”

In reference to the North’s troop deployment to Russia to support the war with Ukraine, Kim stated that relations between the North and Russia have been further solidified into the “sincerest alliance of sharing blood, life and death in the same trench,” according to Yonhap news agency.

“Now no one can break the relations between the peoples of the two countries and their unity, supported firmly by embodiment of the strong will and strength to defend the just aspirations of the times and set right history,” stated the president.

In a greeting letter to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un earlier on December 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the North’s “heroic” deployment of soldiers in Russia’s conflict against Ukraine.

Since Putin and Kim inked a “comprehensive strategic partnership” deal at their June 2024 meeting in Pyongyang, North Korea and Russia have been strengthening their military cooperation. The North has contributed some 15,000 combat soldiers to back Moscow’s fight against Ukraine since last year.