“Friends for Life, Forged in Battle” VIDEO. The pro-Kremlin singer also dedicates an ode to Kim Jong Un

Russian pop star Shaman has released a new song praising North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which he performed during a concert in Pyongyang last week, according to Russian media reports and video clips released late Wednesday.

Shaman was part of a group of Russian singers and dancers invited to perform in front of Kim at an event marking the 80th anniversary of the North Korean Workers' Party.

“Kim Jong Un took the stage and thanked the Russian artists for their successful performance,” the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) wrote, publishing photos from the event.

The lyrics, which can be heard in a snippet of the song, published Wednesday by a channel on the Russian pop culture messaging app Telegram, describe Kim as a wise leader and a national savior.

Russian “patriotic” pop star Shaman has performed a new song in Pyongyang.
The chorus goes:

“Comrade Kim Jong Un, Comrade Kim Jong Un,
he leads Korea forward.
And in step with him, in step with him,
marques all the people.”

Catchy stuff. pic.twitter.com/iVd3YWX7Mp

— Brian McDonald (@27khv) October 15, 2025

“During the hard years of war, like the soldiers of a regiment, two countries – Korea and Russia – became lifelong friends, forged in battle,” sings Shaman. The full three-minute version of the track later appeared on the Kontekst news channel on Telegram.

North Korea has become one of Moscow's closest allies after the large-scale invasion launched by Russian troops in Ukraine.

According to Western intelligence officials, Pyongyang has supplied Moscow with artillery shells and missiles, and last year sent troops to Russia's southwestern Kursk region to help push back Ukrainian forces.

Shaman first performed in Pyongyang in August at an event marking the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

🇷🇺🤝🇰🇵 Russian singer Shaman performed in North Korea in the presence of Kim Jong Un.
The concert was held to honor the memory of Soviet soldiers who fought against militarist Japan for the liberation of North Korea during WWII 🫡 pic.twitter.com/NOBLXwanx3

— Roberto (@UniqueMongolia) August 16, 2025

A similar version of his new song was reportedly performed during a rally organized in eastern Ukraine under the occupation of Russian forces.

Known for patriotic hits such as “Ya Russky” (“I'm Russian”) and “Moi Boy” (“My Struggle”), Shaman, whose real name is Yaroslav Dronov, became a symbol of wartime nationalism in Russia.

In 2022, he was banned from entering Canada, the European Union and Australia. Media reported that he canceled several concerts in Russia to attend last week's performance at the Mansudae Art Theater in Pyongyang.