North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he was proud of his country’s growing relationship with Russia and expressed optimism about its future in a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin. State media KCNA reported that Kim said he had always regarded jointly advancing North Korea-Russia relations with Putin as a source of pride.

Kim also said he hoped Russia would become more prosperous under Putin’s leadership and preserve its territorial integrity. Putin sent Kim a letter on August 14 marking the Korean Peninsula’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Putin said bilateral ties had reached an “all-time high level of comprehensive strategic partnership” and that the two countries were actively cooperating in various fields to ensure security and regional stability.

Relations between Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened since Russia launched its full-scale war in Ukraine in 2022. The report said North Korea had provided military assistance to Russia in exchange for economic benefits and military technology. Ukraine recently accused Russia of using North Korean ballistic missiles and claimed many North Korean troops could be deployed to Russia in the future, without providing evidence or a timeline.