North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed his country’s deepening military and diplomatic partnership with Russia, describing the relationship as an unbreakable alliance forged in the “same trench.” In a New Year’s message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Kim characterized the ties between Pyongyang and Moscow as a bond of “blood, life, and death,” signaling a long-term commitment to their shared strategic goals.
Why It Matters
The rhetoric marks a significant escalation in the formal language used to describe the bilateral relationship. By framing the alliance as a “precious common asset” for future generations, Kim is signaling that the North Korean military’s involvement in the Ukraine conflict is not a temporary transaction, but rather the foundation of a permanent security pact. This alignment poses a direct challenge to Western efforts to isolate Moscow and underscores the growing “invincible friendship” that now includes the direct deployment of North Korean combat troops on European soil.
What to Know
The message, which was released through North Korea’s state-run news agency KCNA, highlighted that the two nations have consolidated their power into a sincerest alliance. According to Kim, the “absolute solidity” of their partnership has been “vividly etched in the pages of the times and history.”
Key details of the burgeoning cooperation include:
- Military Personnel: Kim’s administration has already deployed approximately 12,000 soldiers to assist Russian forces in the Kursk region. Plans are reportedly in place to send an additional 30,000 troops by July.
- Casualties: Reports indicate the human cost of this deployment is rising. While Kim recently honored nine fallen engineers from the 528th Regiment during a homecoming ceremony, external reports suggest total North Korean fatalities in the conflict may exceed 6,000.
- Resource Exchange: Beyond manpower, Pyongyang has supplied Russia with artillery shells, missiles, and long-range rocket systems. In exchange, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly provided North Korea with essential food supplies, energy, financial aid, and advanced military technology.
What People Are Saying
Kim Jong Un described 2025 as a “really meaningful year” for the two countries, asserting that “no one can break the relations between the people of the two countries and their unity.” In previous correspondence, Putin has lauded North Korea’s support in the Ukraine war as a “heroic” act.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is focusing on the shifting geopolitical landscape in the United States. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with President Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago to discuss security and economic agreements. “Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war,” Zelensky stated on X, emphasizing the need for a sincerest alliance of Western support to remain strong at the negotiating table.
What Happens Next
The international community will be watching the upcoming meeting between Trump and Zelensky for signs of how the new U.S. administration intends to handle the North Korean intervention. As 2025 begins, the deployment of 30,000 additional North Korean troops remains a primary concern for Kyiv and its allies. In Pyongyang, Kim Jong Un has indicated that the military collaboration will continue to be “carried forward forever,” suggesting that North Korean forces may become a permanent fixture in Russia’s strategic framework for the foreseeable future.
