Putin: Russia, North Korea coordinating on regional security
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- Putin sent a message to Kim Jong Un on Aug 15 marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, stating Moscow and Pyongyang are coordinating efforts to ensure regional security and stability, per KCNA.
- Putin expressed confidence in continued "constructive joint work" on urgent bilateral and international issues, according to KCNA's account of his message.
- Kim Jong Un visited Pyongyang's Liberation Tower on Aug 14, laying a wreath honoring Soviet soldiers who fought Japan in WWII, inscribed: "We do not forget the feats of the Soviet army martyrs."
- Kim said the legacy of "blood ties and combat friendship" between the two countries has become a cornerstone of their expanding relations, per KCNA.
- Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev also sent Kim greetings, per KCNA.
- The exchanges underscore deepening Moscow-Pyongyang ties that have drawn international concern over North Korea's support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
Why it matters: The joint messaging on Korea's liberation anniversary—pairing Putin's coordination pledge with Kim's Liberation Tower tribute to Soviet soldiers—frames the Moscow-Pyongyang partnership in shared historical-combat terms, while international concern persists over North Korea's material support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
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