North Korean leader Kim Jong Un congratulated Vladimir Putin on the New Year, calling him his "closest friend". This was reported by North Korea's KCNA news agency here.
"Comrade Kim Jong Un sincerely congratulated his closest friend Putin on the New Year, sending heartfelt greetings on his behalf, on behalf of the Korean people, and all soldiers and officers of the republic's armed forces to the fraternal Russian people, and all military personnel of the brave Russian army," — the report says.
Kim Jong Un wished Putin victory in the war against Ukraine
According to KCNA, Kim "recalled the important path that has led to the development of traditional Korea-Russia relations into a new level of strategic significance, quality of friendly relations". He wished Putin that 2025 would be "the year of victory in the war where the Russian army and people will defeat the neo-Nazis and achieve a grand victory in the 21st century."
On the Kremlin's site, Kim Jong Un is listed among the state and government leaders who congratulated Putin on the New Year. The exact text of this congratulations is not provided. Among those who received congratulatory telegrams from the Kremlin is also Germany's former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder.
NYT: The idea of sending DPRK troops to Russia came from Pyongyang
The idea of sending North Korean troops to fight in the war against Ukraine in Russia did not originate in Moscow but in Pyongyang, writes The New York Times (NYT) on December 23, citing its sources. According to it, this initiative did not appear immediately after the signing of the strategic partnership agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang. "U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that it was North Korea's idea, although President Vladimir Putin accepted it quickly," writes NYT.
However, as highlighted in the material, North Korea "received nothing immediately in return" for the "help" and its leader Kim Jong Un currently hopes for gratitude from Moscow in the future — in the form of technology, diplomatic support. This also considers RF's actions in confrontations and crisis situations with the West, sources say.
