North Korean leader Kim Jong-un praised Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday for overcoming the challenges and threats posed by the US and firmly defending the state’s dignity and fundamental interests.
Kim said in a message congratulating Putin on his 70th birthday that Putin has long conducted energetic activities with the heavy responsibility of the head of state and achieved remarkable successes in achieving the grand strategic goal of building a powerful Russia.
“Today, Russia is smashing the challenges and threats of the United States and its vassal forces and firmly defending the dignity and fundamental interests of the state. It is unthinkable apart from your outstanding leadership and strong will,” he said in his message, published by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.
Vital US Interest re UKR/RU:
Avoiding #WWIIINot Vital but of interest:
UKR territorial integrity
Defeating PutinPutin already lost by showing Russia's conventional military was a joke
Now it is not a threat to the rest of EU
But
Their nukes ARE still a threat to the world pic.twitter.com/asTWzHPz0I— Jim Hanson (@JimHansonDC) October 2, 2022
The North Korean leader has pledged to strengthen ties with Moscow in order to promote regional peace and stability.
“I am rejoiced over the fact that the mutual support and cooperation between the two countries are strengthened unprecedentedly in the struggle to develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Russia on to a higher stage,” he stated.
Pyongyang also backed Moscow on Tuesday, endorsing the decision of four Ukrainian regions to join Russia.
Read more: North Korea supports Russia’s annexation of Ukrainian territories
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February has proven costly for the Russian military, however, despite its advanced weapons such as cruise missiles. The smaller Ukrainian forces have less firepower, but that includes various Western weapons, which have inflicted heavy losses.
In July, North Korea was one of the few countries that officially recognised two Russian-backed separatist “people’s republics” in eastern Ukraine, after Russia signed a decree declaring them as independent. In retaliation, Ukraine cut off all diplomatic ties with Pyongyang.
Anadolu with additional input by GVS News Desk