‘Forged in Blood’: Kim Jong Un Vows Eternal Ties with Putin Over Ukraine War
Kim Jong Un emphasizes a 'blood alliance' with Vladimir Putin in his New Year message, highlighting troop deployments and increased missile production in support of Russia.
They're sharing blood, life, and death in the same trench. Kim Jong Un's latest New Year’s greeting to Vladimir Putin isn't just a formal pleasantry; it's a chilling declaration of a permanent military alliance solidified on the battlefields of Ukraine.
From Kursk to Posterity: An Unbreakable Bond
In a message published by the KCNA on December 27, 2025, Kim hailed 2025 as a "meaningful year" that transformed bilateral ties. This follows Putin’s earlier praise for the "heroic" role of North Korean troops in Russia’s Kursk region on December 18. Kim described the relationship as a "precious common asset" to be carried forward for generations.
- North Korea deployed thousands of troops to assist Russia’s military campaign.
- At least nine soldiers were confirmed killed during a 120-day deployment in Kursk earlier this year.
Fueling the War Machine
The diplomatic warmth is backed by hard hardware. Just a day before the message, Kim ordered a massive ramp-up in missile production. Analysts believe Pyongyang is using the war as a testing ground for its rockets, improving accuracy while supplying Moscow with artillery shells and long-range systems.
"Now no one can break the relations between the peoples of the two countries and their unity."
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