Sending New Year's Message To Kim Jong-un, President Putin Expects Russia-North Korea Sustainable Cooperation

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin expects Russia and North Korea (North Korea) to continue working together next year, in a New Year's message to leader Kim Jong-un, Pyongyang's state media reported on Friday.

In a message sent on December 17, President Putin said bilateral relations between the two countries had been upgraded to new levels, following a summit with Leader Kim in June in Pyongyang, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), as reported by The Korea Times December 27.

Citing the main defense agreement signed in June, President Putin said he was confident "the two countries will continue to work closely together on joint projects to implement the historic agreement in 2025 and further align efforts to address threats and challenges in this era," KCNA reported.

Leaders Kim and President Putin reached a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement calling for the provision of military assistance "without delay" if one of the parties is attacked. The agreement came into force on December 4.

In an effort to demonstrate close ties with Russia, North Korea has separately expressed its New Year's greeting from Putin and loaded it in Rodong Sinmun, North Korea's main newspaper for domestic readers.

North Korea and Russia have strengthened military cooperation under the partnership agreement.

North Korea is accused of sending about 11,000 troops to Russia to support Moscow's war against Ukraine.

Last week, Seoul's spy agency notified lawmakers that at least 100 North Korean soldiers sent to Russia were killed during fighting and the number of injured North Korean soldiers is estimated at around 1,000.