Kim Jong Un tells Vladimir Putin he is 'proud' of strong North Korea-Russia ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters marking Korea's 81st liberation anniversary, with Kim expressing pride in their deepening bilateral ties. The exchange highlights growing military cooperation, amid Ukrainian claims that up to 50,000 North Korean troops are deploying to Russia. Meanwhile, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's calls for peace dialogue were rejected by Pyongyang, and Putin's visit to a disputed island drew condemnation from Japan.

Kim-Putin correspondence exchange

• ▪North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin stating he was proud of the strong bilateral ties between North Korea and Russia.
• ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on August 14, 2026, stating that relations had reached an unprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership.

North Korean troops in Ukraine

• ▪Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that up to 50,000 North Korean troops are due to deploy to Russia to support Moscow's war effort against Ukraine.
• ▪Ukraine accused Moscow of launching North Korean ballistic missiles in an August 2026 strike that killed at least nine people and wounded dozens.

South Korean dialogue proposal

• ▪North Korea rejected South Korean President Lee Jae Myung's dialogue overtures and criticized joint United States-South Korean military exercises as provocations.
• ▪South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for dialogue with North Korea on August 15, 2026, to establish safeguards against conflict and replace the 1953 armistice with a formal peace regime.

Korea liberation anniversary commemoration

• ▪The Russian ship Pallada arrived at Wonsan port on August 15, 2026, for a goodwill visit linked to North Korea's liberation anniversary.
• ▪North Korea marked the 81st anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule on August 15, 2026.

Putin disputed island visit

• ▪Russian President Vladimir Putin visited an island off Hokkaido on August 13, 2026, which is claimed by Japan and was seized by Moscow following Japan's 1945 surrender.
• ▪Japan condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin's August 13, 2026 visit to the disputed island off Hokkaido.

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