North Korea's Kim sends birthday telegram to Putin, says support for Russia unchanged
In short
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 74th birthday, North Korea's KCNA reported, according to Mainichi Shimbun. Kim was reported to say that valuing the alliance and expanding joint undertakings with Russia is an unchanging policy, and that he is confident Russia's war in Ukraine will end in victory. Two other Japanese newspapers carried the same headline on the message.
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory telegram to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Putin's 74th birthday, North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency reported, according to Mainichi Shimbun. Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun reported the same message, leading on Kim's statement that support for Russia is unchanged. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
According to Mainichi Shimbun's account of the KCNA report, Kim referred to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty concluded in June 2024, which provides for military assistance between the two countries, and said that valuing the alliance and seeking to forcefully expand and develop joint undertakings is an unchanging policy. Kim also said he was confident that Russia's invasion of Ukraine would be brought to an end in victory, stressing that his support for Putin has not changed. [ 3 ]
Mainichi reported that North Korea dispatched troops to Russia's western Kursk region from autumn 2024, after Ukraine's cross-border attack there, and that cooperation between the two countries has been strengthened not only in the military field but across a wide range of areas including civilian affairs. In September, the first automobile bridge linking Russia and North Korea opened, Mainichi reported, increasing the transport of goods and exchanges of people. [ 3 ]
The available texts of the Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun reports consisted of the headline on Kim's message, and no document reported a response from the Russian side. [ 1 , 2 ]
Why it matters
The message, as reported, signals that Pyongyang is not distancing itself from Moscow, which matters for the war in Ukraine and for the region. Mainichi's account links the telegram to a 2024 treaty with military assistance provisions, North Korean troop deployment to Russia's Kursk region and a newly opened road bridge, indicating ties that have moved beyond statements.
Key facts
- Kim Jong Un sent a congratulatory message to Vladimir Putin on Putin's 74th birthday, according to North Korea's KCNA. [ 3 ]
- Japanese outlets reported that Kim said North Korea's support for Russia is unchanged. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Kim cited the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in June 2024, which provides for military assistance between Russia and North Korea. [ 3 ]
- Kim said he was confident Russia's invasion of Ukraine would end in victory. [ 3 ]
- North Korea dispatched troops to Russia's Kursk region from autumn 2024, after Ukraine's cross-border attack, Mainichi reported. [ 3 ]
- The first automobile bridge between Russia and North Korea opened in September, increasing transport of goods and exchanges of people, according to Mainichi. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Details of the message beyond the treaty reference and the remark on Ukraine These specifics appear only in Mainichi Shimbun; Nishi-Nippon Shimbun and Tokyo Shimbun were available only as headlines.
- Whether Russia responded to the message No document reports a Russian response.
- The exact time on 7 October when the telegram was sent The documents give the date but no time.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes a report headlined “Kim Jong Un: support for Russia is unchanged,” on a congratulatory telegram to Putin. [ 1 ]
- Tokyo Shimbun publishes the same headline on the telegram. [ 2 ]
- Mainichi Shimbun publishes a fuller report citing KCNA, with the treaty reference, the Ukraine remark and background on Russia-North Korea ties. [ 3 ]