North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a New Year’s letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in which he announced his intention to further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries. This was reported on Tuesday, 31 December, by the North Korean state news agency KCNA, citing EFE and Agerpres.
“The year of the great victory”
In his letter sent the day before, Kim Jong-un stressed that 2025 would be the first year of “great victory” for Russia:
“The new year of 2025 will be recorded as the year of victory in the 21st century, when the Russian army and people will overcome neo-Nazism and win a great victory,” the address reads.
Kim also conveyed “warm greetings to the fraternal Russian people” and the “brave Russian army”, expressing his desire to deepen the strategic partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
Expanding military cooperation
In November of this year, Russia and North Korea ratified a strategic partnership agreement that includes provisions on mutual defence. In the event of an armed attack on one of the countries, the other party undertakes to provide immediate military assistance.
According to Ukraine and its allies, the DPRK has already sent about 11,000 of its military to Russia. Some of them have joined Russian units in the Kursk border region.
Joint military exercises
According to the Russian news agency TASS, President Vladimir Putin has allowed for the possibility of joint military exercises with the DPRK. Such a step could mean deepening military cooperation between the two countries.
These developments are of concern to the international community because of the threat of escalation of global conflicts. International organisations and Ukraine’s partner countries are calling for tougher sanctions against Pyongyang and Moscow.
