SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have reaffirmed their countries’ growing relationship as Pyongyang marked the 81st anniversary of the end of Japanese colonial rule. Kim said he hoped to further strengthen ties with Moscow after receiving a congratulatory message from Putin, according to North Korea’s KCNA state news agency.
- Kim Jong Un reaffirmed North Korea’s deepening relationship with Russia in a message to Putin.
- Putin said the countries’ bond was forged through the Soviet Union’s fight against Japan.
- Russia’s Pallada arrived at North Korea’s Wonsan port for a goodwill visit linked to the anniversary.
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung separately called for dialogue with Pyongyang and a formal peace regime.
Kim Jong Un Highlights North Korea-Russia Friendship
Kim’s message came in response to Putin’s congratulations marking Saturday’s anniversary. The Russian president said the relationship between the two countries had roots in the period when Soviet forces fought Japan and expressed support for continued cooperation across sectors.
Kim, in turn, referred to what he described as a shared history of struggle for justice and longstanding traditions of friendship. He expressed hope that those ties would continue into the future.
The exchange comes as North Korea and Russia have significantly expanded their relationship. Pyongyang has deployed troops and weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine, marking its most significant involvement in an overseas conflict since the Korean War era.
Russian Ship Visits North Korean Port
The strengthening relationship was also reflected in a Russian naval presence at Wonsan. The Russian ship Pallada arrived at the North Korean port on Saturday for a goodwill visit connected to the liberation anniversary.
According to KCNA, North Korean provincial officials and staff from the Russian embassy in Pyongyang were present to greet the ship. The visit added a diplomatic dimension to celebrations marking the end of Japanese colonial rule.
South Korea Calls for Talks With North Korea
While Pyongyang and Moscow highlighted their partnership, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung used Seoul’s Liberation Day ceremony to call for renewed dialogue with North Korea.
Lee said the two Koreas needed safeguards to prevent conflict and argued that the existing armistice should eventually be replaced with a permanent peace regime. The Korean War, fought from 1950 to 1953, ended with a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty.
Lee also said talks could examine ways to address North Korea’s nuclear programme. His appeal represents a diplomatic approach that contrasts with Pyongyang’s recent criticism of U.S.-South Korean military exercises.
Pyongyang Rejects South Korean Overtures
North Korea has rejected Lee’s recent overtures and has criticised joint military exercises between the United States and South Korea, describing them as provocations.
The competing messages underline the different diplomatic positions on the Korean Peninsula. Seoul is calling for measures aimed at reducing tensions and establishing a peace framework, while Pyongyang continues to oppose what it regards as hostile military activity.
Putin’s Japan Visit Draws Tokyo’s Condemnation
The latest exchange between Putin and Kim also came amid tensions involving Russia and Japan. On Thursday, Putin visited an island off Hokkaido that Japan claims and that Moscow seized in the days following Japan’s surrender in 1945.
The visit drew condemnation from Tokyo and added another point of tension involving Moscow and Japan as North Korea marked the anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is North Korea strengthening ties with Russia?
The supplied Reuters report says North Korea and Russia have grown closer as Pyongyang has provided troops and weapons in support of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Kim’s latest message reaffirmed the relationship and its historical ties.
What did South Korea propose on Liberation Day?
President Lee Jae Myung called for talks with North Korea focused on peaceful coexistence, conflict prevention and replacing the Korean War armistice with a formal peace regime.
Diplomatic Positions Remain Divided
The messages exchanged between Kim and Putin highlight the continued expansion of North Korea-Russia relations, while developments in Seoul point toward a separate effort to reopen dialogue between the two Koreas.
For now, Pyongyang has rejected South Korea’s overtures, leaving the Korean Peninsula’s diplomatic landscape shaped by closer North Korea-Russia ties alongside competing calls for inter-Korean dialogue.
