North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un Congratulates Vladimir Putin on His 74th Birthday, Praising His Leadership
Moscow, Russia | October 7, 2026 | The Global Journal
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has extended warm birthday greetings to Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 74th birthday, praising his leadership and wishing Russia “victory and glory.”
In a telegram published by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim Jong Un referred to Putin as his “dearest friend” and “Comrade.” In the message, Kim said, “My dearest friend, Comrade Vladimir Putin, please accept my most heartfelt and warmest congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your momentous birthday.”
Kim Praises Putin’s Leadership
Kim Jong Un said that over the past 20 years, under Putin’s “outstanding and skillful leadership,” Russia has strengthened its position as a state and demonstrated to the world that it is a “powerful and prosperous country.”
He also said that the Russian president enjoys “great trust and support from the Russian people.”
Referring to the war in Ukraine, Kim said Russia “will surely emerge victorious in this just and sacred war” and defend the country’s sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity.
Russia-North Korea Strategic Partnership
In his birthday message, Kim also highlighted North Korea’s “brotherly” relationship and comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia, saying that the partnership would continue to expand.
Since Russia launched its full-scale military operation in Ukraine, political, diplomatic and military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang has significantly increased. Their growing cooperation, particularly involving military equipment, ammunition and personnel, has drawn considerable international attention.
Alleged North Korean Military Support for Russia
According to South Korean military intelligence, North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 12 million rounds of ammunition and ballistic missiles.
The same assessment says North Korea has deployed approximately 13,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region, with around 2,300 reportedly killed.
However, figures concerning North Korean military assistance and troop deployments have been disputed, and some claims have not been independently verified.
Economic Value of Military Cooperation
According to estimates by Bloomberg Economics, North Korea has earned approximately $14.02 billion from military assistance to Russia since 2022. The estimate reportedly includes around $849 million associated with the provision of North Korean military personnel.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously claimed that North Korea was planning to deploy 30,000 to 50,000 military personnel to Russian territory.
Ukrainian intelligence has also claimed that North Korea planned to send a missile unit to Russia’s Voronezh region, consisting of six launchers and approximately 120 missiles.
Claims Over KN-23 and KN-24 Missiles
According to Kyiv, North Korea transferred 40 short-range KN-23 and KN-24 ballistic missiles to Russia in 2026.
At the end of July, Zelenskyy said Russia was already using the missiles in attacks against Ukraine.
Western countries and Ukraine have repeatedly expressed concern over the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Moscow and Pyongyang, meanwhile, have described their bilateral ties as part of their sovereign decisions and strategic partnership.
Putin Receives Birthday Greetings From World Leaders
On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, Vladimir Putin is celebrating his 74th birthday. He has received birthday greetings from leaders of several countries.
Among those who have congratulated him are Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Kim Jong Un’s latest message not only praised Putin’s leadership but also reaffirmed Pyongyang’s commitment to strengthening and expanding its strategic partnership with Moscow. The message has once again highlighted the deepening Russia-North Korea relationship amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.
