Seoul, Sept 2026 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has pledged to expand and deepen “joint work” with Russia, signalling further strengthening of military and economic cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, state media reported on Tuesday.
Kim conveyed his commitment in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin in response to Putin’s recent congratulatory message marking North Korea’s 78th founding anniversary on September 9. According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim expressed his “deep” appreciation for Putin’s message and reaffirmed North Korea’s commitment to closer ties with Russia.
“The will” of North Korea remains firm to “expand and deepen the joint work with the Russian Federation comprehensively,” Kim said in the letter. He said such cooperation would be based on the longstanding traditions of friendship, good-neighbourliness and mutual assistance, as well as the alliance between the two countries.
Kim did not provide specific details about what the “joint work” would involve. However, the statement is widely seen as referring to the continued expansion of military, economic and other forms of strategic cooperation between the two countries.
The North Korean leader said Pyongyang and Moscow were continuing to “write a new biography of the great history of alliance” while confronting what he described as an “uneven historical storm.” He also reiterated North Korea’s unwavering support for Russia amid its ongoing war against Ukraine.
Relations between North Korea and Russia have strengthened considerably in recent years. The two countries signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty during Putin’s state visit to Pyongyang in June 2024. The agreement includes a commitment to provide military assistance “without delay” if either country comes under armed attack.
North Korea has subsequently provided Russia with conventional weapons and sent thousands of troops to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine, according to reports.
The strengthening relationship was also highlighted by the opening of a new road bridge connecting North Korea and Russia across the Tumen River. North Korean state media reported on Tuesday that the infrastructure project is expected to contribute to the “revitalisation” of multifaceted bilateral cooperation.
The bridge links Rason in North Korea with Khasan in Russia. Its opening ceremony was attended virtually by North Korean Premier Pak Thae-song and Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.
Construction of the bridge began in April last year, following the June 2024 summit between Kim and Putin in Pyongyang.
The KCNA said the bridge would facilitate the movement of vehicles and personnel between the two countries and serve as important infrastructure for expanding economic cooperation. It is also expected to support people-to-people exchanges, tourism and commodity circulation.
North Korean officials described the bridge as a “new symbol” of friendship between Pyongyang and Moscow. Pak said the project would provide “a new dynamic movement” to overall bilateral cooperation.
Mishustin, meanwhile, said relations between Russia and North Korea had reached an “unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership.” He pledged that Moscow would continue to make every effort to promote the “multifaceted development” of bilateral relations.
The bridge has been named after Yakov Novichenko, a Soviet Red Army officer who, according to KCNA, was credited with saving the life of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung in 1946.
The latest developments underline the rapidly expanding strategic partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow, with both sides seeking to strengthen political, economic and security ties amid growing geopolitical tensions.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
