North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (L) shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, Beijing, China, September 4, 2025. (Photo by Reuters)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described the deepening alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow as one sealed through "shared blood" shed in the Ukraine conflict, in a New Year message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. The letter, published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on December 27, 2025, portrays 2025 as a "really meaningful year" marked by unbreakable unity and mutual support amid global challenges.
In the message addressed to his "dear comrade," Kim extended warm greetings for 2026 on behalf of the DPRK government and people: “My dear comrade! On behalf of the government of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Korean people, I extend the warmest and sincerest greeting of best wishes to you and, through you, to the government of the Russian Federation and the fraternal Russian people on the occasion of the New Year 2026.”
Kim emphasized that bilateral relations had evolved into "the sincerest alliance of sharing blood, life and death in the same trench," with their "absolute solidity and mightiness... more vividly etched in the pages of the times and history." He asserted that "justice, truth, victory and glory" would always accompany Russia, wishing Putin good health and success in defending national interests, while hoping for happiness and prosperity for the Russian people.
The rhetoric directly references North Korea's military support for Russia in Ukraine, including the deployment of thousands of troops—estimated at around 15,000 since late 2024—and artillery supplies. Pyongyang officially acknowledged troop involvement and casualties in April 2025, framing it as solidarity against Western aggression. Analysts view the "shared blood" phrase as underscoring combat losses among North Korean soldiers, particularly in Russia's Kursk region.
This exchange follows Putin's own New Year message to Kim on December 18, 2025 (reported December 25), praising the "heroic" role of North Korean forces in Kursk and hailing an "invincible friendship." The mutual endorsements highlight the strategic partnership treaty signed in June 2024 during Putin's Pyongyang visit, featuring a mutual defense clause.
Relations have intensified since Russia's 2022 Ukraine invasion, with North Korea providing munitions and manpower in exchange for alleged Russian technology transfers aiding Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs. The alliance challenges Western sanctions and isolation efforts against both nations.
Kim's message reinforces ideological alignment against perceived U.S.-led hegemony, portraying the partnership as a "precious common asset" for future generations. As 2026 approaches, the rhetoric signals sustained cooperation amid ongoing Ukraine hostilities and North Korea's advancing weapons tests.
