Putin writes letter to Kim Jong-un: “Heroic friendship” | EUROtoday

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the shut ties between the 2 international locations in a New Year’s letter to North Korean chief Kim Jong-un. In his letter, which arrived final week, Putin praised the participation of North Korean troopers in Moscow’s offensive towards Ukraine, the North Korean information company KCNA reported on Thursday. The “heroic effort” of the North Korean troopers “clearly demonstrated the invincible friendship” between the 2 international locations.

Putin particularly talked about the “fights to liberate the Kursk region from the occupiers and the subsequent activities of Korean engineers on Russian soil.”

According to findings from South Korean and Western intelligence providers, North Korea despatched greater than 10,000 troopers to Russia final yr, primarily within the Kursk border area. Accordingly, artillery shells, rockets and long-range rocket techniques have been additionally used. North Korea confirmed for the primary time in April that it had despatched troopers to Russia.

According to KCNA, in his New Year’s letter to Kim, Putin additionally mentioned the protection settlement between the 2 international locations. Putin wrote that the provisions of the “historic Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” had been fulfilled because of “our joint efforts.” Strong relations between Pyongyang and Moscow would “contribute to the creation of a just order in the multipolar world.”

Pyongyang is one in every of Moscow’s most essential supporters in its conflict of aggression towards Ukraine. Last yr, throughout Putin’s go to to Pyongyang, North Korea and Russia concluded a protection settlement that additionally features a mutual protection clause.

Meanwhile, Russia continued to bombard Ukraine’s power infrastructure at Christmas, bringing loss of life and destruction to the nation. In the Odessa area on the Black Sea, authorities reported one lifeless and two injured following Russian drone assaults. There is injury to the port and power infrastructure. According to authorities, assaults within the Kharkiv area close to the Russian border left one lifeless and 15 injured. Two folks died in a drone assault on Christmas Eve within the Chernihiv area.

Russia, which, based on Orthodox customs, solely celebrates Christmas on January seventh – like many Orthodox Christians in Ukraine – had rejected a ceasefire on the vacations. With the assaults, the Russian management additionally desires to pressure Kiev to comply with a peace settlement on Moscow’s phrases. Ukraine sees Moscow’s calls for as a name for give up.

Russia has been waging a harmful conflict of aggression in Ukraine for nearly 4 years now.