Seoul, May 9 (IANS): North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia’s 81st Victory Day, reaffirming Pyongyang’s firm commitment to deepening its comprehensive strategic partnership with Moscow, state media KCNA reported Saturday. In the message, Kim expressed his “sincerest congratulations” and satisfaction with what he described as the “brilliant history of independence, dignity, peace and prosperity” shared by the two nations, pledging that North Korea would “always faithfully fulfil the obligations” under the inter-state treaty between the two countries. The message comes in the wake of the landmark “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty signed by Kim and Putin in June 2024, which effectively revived the two countries’ Cold War-era military alliance and has since seen Pyongyang deploy around 15,000 combat troops to support Russia in its ongoing war against Ukraine, alongside deepening bilateral cooperation across multiple fronts.
The congratulatory message further underscores the rapidly strengthening military and diplomatic ties between the two nations, which have accelerated significantly in recent months. On April 26, Kim Jong-un held talks in Pyongyang with Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, during which both sides discussed the current state and future prospects of military cooperation. Belousov announced that the two countries had agreed to transition their military cooperation onto a sustainable, long-term footing, with plans to sign a Russian-Korean Military Cooperation Plan covering the period 2027 to 2031 still within this year. The Russian Defence Minister also noted that bilateral relations are currently at an “unprecedentedly high level” and expressed appreciation for North Korea’s invitation to a Russian military delegation to attend the opening of a museum and memorial complex, describing it as “a great honour and privilege.” With both sides signalling continued momentum, 2026 is shaping up to be another landmark year in the Russia-North Korea strategic relationship.