Putin Celebrates 'Unbreakable Bond' as North Korea Supports Russia

In a recent New Year’s letter to North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed high regard for the “unbreakable bond” shared between Russia and North Korea. Delivered to Pyongyang last week, the letter emphasizes their military collaboration, notably the involvement of North Korean troops in Russia’s ongoing offensive in Ukraine.

Putin referred to the North Korean troop presence as a strong affirmation of the robust military camaraderie connecting Moscow and Pyongyang. Intelligence reports suggest that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia this year, primarily in the strategically important Kursk area near the Ukrainian border. Alongside this military support, North Korea has also supplied artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems, enhancing Russia’s wartime capabilities.

In his correspondence, Putin praised the valor of the North Korean forces, stating, “The heroic involvement of the Korean People’s Army in securing the Kursk region from adversaries and the subsequent efforts of Korean engineers in Russia clearly indicate our unbreakable bond.” He highlighted how the aims of a pivotal treaty on comprehensive strategic cooperation, signed during his June 2024 visit to Pyongyang, have been effectively realized through their joint actions.

This treaty significantly bolstered Moscow-Pyongyang relations and includes a mutual defense agreement, obligating each country to provide swift military assistance if the other is attacked. Putin underscored that this deepening military partnership is essential for fostering a balanced and multipolar global order, positioning both countries as formidable challengers to Western dominance.

In parallel, South Korean intelligence reports estimate that around 2,000 North Korean soldiers in the conflict have perished. North Korea officially acknowledged its troop deployment in April 2024, revealing that some soldiers had been killed in action. Since then, Kim Jong Un has met with the families of these fallen soldiers, sharing condolences and expressing solidarity with their profound loss.

North Korean media have released poignant images of Kim embracing a soldier back from battle, who was visibly emotional, underlining the heavy human toll of the conflict for Pyongyang.

In response to the military cooperation pact between Moscow and Pyongyang, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's administration suggested a possible reevaluation of its long-standing arms supply ban to Ukraine, although no definitive actions have been undertaken.

The escalating military collaboration between Russia and North Korea indicates a substantial change in the global power landscape amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, highlighting the strengthening ties between two nations opposing Western influence, and raising critical questions about the evolving nature of international security and diplomacy.