Kim Jong Un vows to deepen ties with Russia in message to Putin
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin (Photo: KCNA via REUTERS)
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un reaffirmed the deepening of ties between North Korea and Russia in a message to Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, Reuters wrote on Aug. 17, citing North Korean state media.
Kim's address came in response to Putin's greetings marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II. In his message, the Russian dictator stated that bilateral ties were forged during the struggle of Soviet soldiers against Japan and that cooperation would continue "in all spheres."
For his part, Kim expressed hope for the future development of these relations, which he said "continue the history of joint struggle for justice and precious traditions of friendship."
In late July, reports indicated that Russia and North Korea were nearing completion of a bridge over the Tumen River, marking their first-ever direct vehicular road connection. According to The Guardian, the new corridor could facilitate military supply transfers between the two nations to support the war against Ukraine.
The bridge over the Tumen River measures approximately one kilometer in length and seven meters in width, features two traffic lanes, and forms part of a broader 4.7-kilometer transport link that includes access roads. Both countries have not concealed the bridge project, claiming it is intended to "expand trade and tourism."
On Aug. 5, Reuters, citing Ukrainian military intelligence representative Andriy Chernyak, reported that North Korea was deploying a missile unit to Russia to strike Ukraine. The unit could comprise up to 120 KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles alongside six launchers.
On July 25, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine possessed reliable intelligence regarding Russian plans for autumn, noting that Russia was preparing to receive an additional 30,000 troops from North Korea.
On March 16, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported that North Korea could have earned up to $14.4 billion from deploying its troops to Russia and exporting weapons to the aggressor state.
The report noted that North Korea had sent troops to Russia four separate times since October 2024, dispatching over 20,000 soldiers in total. Earnings from troop deployments — including soldier pay and death compensations — are estimated at $620 million, Yonhap wrote.
According to the assessment, if the current pace persists, North Korea could generate around $560 million annually from troop deployments alone.
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