North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin he backed deeper ties as Pyongyang marked the anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule, KCNA reported. The exchange followed Putin's congratulatory message and comes amid closer Pyongyang‑Moscow cooperation, including North Korea's reported support to Russia in Ukraine. South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung urged inter‑Korean talks to replace the armistice with a formal peace regime, an offer Pyongyang rejected. Putin's visit to a disputed island near Hokkaido also drew condemnation from Tokyo.
Kim Reaffirms Deepening Ties With Putin on Korean Liberation Day Amid Closer Pyongyang‑Moscow Cooperation
FILE PHOTO: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin as they attend a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War Two, in Beijing, China, in this picture released by the Korean Central News Agency on September 4, 2025/File Photo
By Hyeyoon Cho — SEOUL, Aug 16 (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he supported further deepening ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin as Pyongyang marked the anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule, the KCNA state news agency reported on Sunday.
Kim's comments were a reply to a congratulatory message from Putin on the 81st anniversary of Tokyo's World War Two surrender. Putin said the relationship was forged when Soviet soldiers fought Japan and pledged that cooperation would continue "in all the sectors," according to KCNA.
Historic ties and recent alignment
Kim said he hoped for a strong future for relations that had "carried forward the history of common struggle for justice and precious traditions of friendship." The exchange underscores growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, which have warmed since North Korea began supplying personnel and arms to support Russia's war in Ukraine — Pyongyang's most significant direct involvement in an overseas conflict since the 1950s.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visits the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on National Liberation Day, in Pyongyang, North Korea, August 14, 2026, in this photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on August 15, 2026. KCNA via REUTERS
Goodwill visit and regional reactions
The Russian ship Pallada docked at Wonsan port on Saturday for a goodwill visit tied to the liberation anniversary and was welcomed by North Korean provincial officials and Russian embassy staff, KCNA said. The visit coincided with South Korean President Lee Jae‑myung's call at Seoul's Liberation Day ceremony for talks with the North aimed at peaceful coexistence and replacing the 1950‑53 armistice with a formal peace regime.
Lee urged dialogue to formally end the Korean War and said talks could explore measures to curb Pyongyang's nuclear programme. Pyongyang rejected Lee's overtures and criticized U.S.‑South Korean military exercises as provocations.
Broader tensions
Separately, Putin drew condemnation from Tokyo after visiting a Russian‑held island off Hokkaido that Japan claims and that Moscow seized shortly after Japan's 1945 surrender. The visit highlighted lingering territorial and historical disputes that continue to shape regional diplomacy.
Reporting by Hyeyoon Cho; KCNA statements reported by Reuters; Edited by Brenda Goh and William Mallard.
Help us improve.
