SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has pledged to “hold hands” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen strategic cooperation on their common goal of building a powerful country, state media reported on Monday. KCNA.
Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin on Russia’s National Day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and displaying “unreserved support and solidarity”.
“Justice is sure to win, and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the victory story,” Kim said in the post published by KCNA.
Kim called for “closer strategic cooperation” with Moscow, “firmly holding the hand of the Russian president, in accordance with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to achieve the great goal of building a powerful country”, he said. he adds.
North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming the ‘hegemonic politics’ and ‘authoritarianism’ of the US and the EU. West.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Stephen Coates)