Kim Jong Un Glorifies Putin's 'Sacred War' Against Ukraine

North Korea's supreme leader has reiterated his country's support for Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, and expressed his intention to foster closer ties between the two regimes.

"I express firm belief that the strong and brave Russian people will firmly defend the sovereign right and security interests of the state and surely win victory in the sacred war for regional peace and international justice," Kim Jong Un said on Thursday, according state news agency KNCA.

Newsweek has contacted the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry for its reaction to the statement.

His statement was in response to a Tuesday message from Vladimir Putin, expressing "heartfelt congratulations" to Kim on the eve of North Korea's Liberation Day, celebrated annually on August 15.

On Thursday, Kim visited the Liberation Tower monument in Pyongyang, which honors the soldiers of the Red Army who helped liberate the country from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.

North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung—grandfather of the current leader—was supported by Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, who declared war on Japan toward the end of World War II. The Soviets backed Kim's communist forces, leading to the establishment of the Democratic People's Republic following Korea's liberation.

During the ensuing ceremony, at which staff members of the Russian embassy were also present, Kim laid a wreath at the tower, on which the message "we do not forget the exploits of the fallen fighters of the Soviet Army" was written, according to KNCA.

"The friendly feelings of the armies and peoples of the two countries forged and deepened in the bloody struggle against the common enemy serve as a strong driving force for developing the traditional DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation," Kim said.

In his congratulatory message, the Russian president also reportedly stressed the importance of "thoroughly implement[ing] the agreements reached at the recent talks held in Pyongyang," which will "promote the expansion of the reciprocal cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea."

The two leaders met during Putin's visit to the isolated state in June, at which a treaty on "comprehensive strategic partnership" was signed.

Among other things, the agreement included a mutual defense clause, establishing their commitment to joint retaliatory measures against any action that threatens either country.

During the trip, the Russian president thanked Kim for his "unwavering support for Russian policy, including in the Ukrainian direction," according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

North Korea has been a stalwart supporter of Russia's "special military operation" since the invasion began in February 2022, and relations between the pair appear to have grown stronger over the course of the conflict.

Debris from North Korean-made missiles has been found on the battlefields in Ukraine, according to the U.S. Department of Defense and, on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that these had been used in an attack on the nation's capital.

One expert previously told Newsweek North Korea is going to extreme lengths to bolster its missile production capabilities, sourcing components from around the world in order to supplement Russia's waning arsenal.

The deepening bonds between the two countries have drawn the ire of North Korea's neighbor, with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol warning that the pair's military cooperation poses "a distinct threat and grave challenge to peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and in Europe."

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