Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent North Korean leader Kim Jong Un a New Year’s card, reaffirming the friendly relations between the two countries.
The state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun published the full text of Putin’s letter on its front page Friday: “The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory letter from the President of the Russian Federation.”
In the letter, Putin wrote, “The meeting between you and me, held in Pyongyang this past June, elevated the Russia-North Korea relationship to a new qualitative level.” He emphasized the significance of the treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership, signed after the meeting, describing it as having laid the groundwork for fundamentally expanding mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation across all key sectors.
During his June visit to Pyongyang, Putin held a summit with Kim, which resulted in the signing of a new treaty akin to a military alliance. This strengthened military ties between the two nations, including alleged illicit arms trading and potential North Korean troop deployments.
Putin expressed confidence that in 2025, they will continue to work closely on joint projects to implement this historic treaty and further align their efforts to address contemporary threats and challenges. He stated that this undoubtedly serves the fundamental interests of the friendly peoples of the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Since signing the new treaty in June, both countries have intensified their collaboration in the military sphere and across various sectors, including social, economic, and cultural domains. This trend is expected to continue into the following year.
Typically, North Korea reports receiving New Year’s greetings from leaders of friendly nations, such as Russia and China, in a consolidated manner. However, this time, the publication highlighted Putin’s letter exclusively, underscoring the special relationship between the two nations.