AFP, Seoul

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said his country will always support Russia, and complimented his counterpart in a letter published by state media yesterday.

Ties between the two countries have grown closer since Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, with Pyongyang dispatching ground troops and weapons systems to aid Russia’s war effort.

Analysts say the assistance has been provided in exchange for Russia’s provision of food and weapons technology.

“I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as President of the State Affairs,” Kim said in the message on Tuesday, the official Korean Central News Agency said.

North Korea’s rubber-stamp legislature reappointed Kim this week as head of the authoritarian nation’s highest policymaking and governing body.

“Today, the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries,” Kim said, using the initials of the North’s official name.