Global Courant
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to “hold hands” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and strengthen strategic cooperation in their shared goal of building a powerful country, the government reported. state media KCNA Monday.
Kim made the pledge in a message to Putin on the occasion of Russia’s National Day, defending his decision to invade Ukraine and showing “full support and solidarity”.
“Justice will surely win and the Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory,” Kim said in the KCNA message.
Kim called for “closer strategic cooperation” with Moscow, “holding hands firmly with the Russian president, in accordance with the common desire of the peoples of the two countries to realize the great goal of building a powerful country”, it added.
North Korea has sought to forge closer ties with the Kremlin and supported Moscow after it invaded Ukraine last year.
(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin; editing by Stephen Coates)
