
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to "hold hands" with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen strategic cooperation for their common goal of building a powerful country, state media KCNA reported Monday. .
Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin marking Russia's National Day, defending and championing his decision to invade Ukraine and showing "full support and solidarity".
"Justice is certain to prevail and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory," Kim said in his message.
Kim called for "closer strategic cooperation" with Moscow, "in accordance with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to fulfill the great goal of building a powerful country," he added.
North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and backed Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year, blaming "the hegemonic policy of the United States and the West".
In recent months, countries such as Japan have expressed concern about Russian, Chinese and North Korean military cooperation in Asia, stressing that Europe's security situation cannot be separated from that in the Indo-Pacific region following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. .
The United States has said that Russia will offer North Korea food in exchange for weapons. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said a potential arms deal between North Korea and Russia would violate Security Council resolutions.
The United States has previously accused North Korea of supplying Russia with weapons in Ukraine, but also with mercenaries of the Russian Wagner group.
In February, experts warned that the country, which has one of the world's most authoritarian regimes, is facing a food crisis due to a sharp drop in production - mainly due to climatic conditions, strict border controls, and the impact of international sanctions.
Satellite images from South Korean authorities show that the North Koreans produced 180,000 tons less food in 2022, compared to 2021./ REL