‘Always proud’: Kim Jong Un hails Russia ties in message to Putin

File photo: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Picture credit: Reuters) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reaffirmed Pyongyang's close ties with Russia, telling President Vladimir Putin that he is proud of the relationship between the two countries as North Korea marked the anniversary of its liberation from Japanese colonial rule.Kim's message came in response to a congratulatory letter from Putin marking the 81st anniversary of Japan's surrender in World War II.The exchange underscored the growing strategic partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow, which has deepened significantly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Kim said he was “proud” of the countries' relationship and expressed confidence in its future.“I am always proud to be able to expect more excellent future of the bilateral relations by leading, together with you, the DPRK-Russia ties that has carried forward the history of common struggle,” Kim said in his letter, according to North Korean state media KCNA.He also expressed “firm belief” that Russia would prosper and protect its “territorial integrity” under Putin's leadership.Putin hails ‘unprecedent...