New Year's wishes for Putin. “We are united with Russia by blood spilled in Ukraine”

North Korea and Russia were united by “blood, life and death” in the war in Ukraine, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un emphasized on Friday in his New Year's wishes addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

According to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies, Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to fight alongside Moscow in its invasion of Ukraine, launched almost four years ago.

In his message, published Friday by state news agency KCNA, Kim said 2025 was a “truly important year” for the alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow, strengthened by “the shed blood, life and death in the same trench.”

North Korea only confirmed in April that it had sent troops to support Russia's military campaign against Ukraine and that North Korean soldiers had died in combat. Earlier in December, Pyongyang confirmed sending troops to clear mines in Russia's Kursk Oblast, near the border with Ukraine, in August 2025. At least nine soldiers from the engineering regiment died during the 120-day mission, Kim Jong Un admitted in a speech delivered on December 13 after the unit's return.

The North Korean leader sent New Year's greetings to Vladimir Putin a day after ordering an increase in missile production next year. Pyongyang has significantly stepped up missile tests in recent years, which analysts say are aimed at improving precision strike capabilities, challenging the United States and South Korea and testing weapons for export to its Russian ally.

North Korea and Russia have grown closer since Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. In addition to sending troops to fight on Russia's side, Pyongyang has provided Moscow with artillery shells, missiles and long-range missile systems. In return, Russia sends North Korea financial aid, military technology, food and energy, analysts say. (PAP)

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