Kim Jong Un Wishes Putin ‘Victory and Glory’ on His 74th Birthday

Oct. 7, 2026 Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un. kremlin.ru North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wished President Vladimir Putin “victory and glory” on his 74th birthday Wednesday, pledging to deepen ties as Pyongyang continues to support Russia’s war in Ukraine. “My dearest friend, Comrade Vladimir Putin, please accept my most heartfelt and warm congratulations and best wishes on the occasion of your birthday,” Kim wrote in a telegram published by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency. Kim praised Putin’s “outstanding and skillful leadership,” saying Russia had strengthened its standing as a world power over the past two decades. He also claimed that Putin enjoyed the Russian people’s “great trust and support.” Russia would “certainly achieve victory in its just and sacred war” and defend its sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity, Kim said. The North Korean leader pledged to keep expanding the countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership, describing Russia as a “brotherly” nation. Moscow has deepened cooperation with Pyongyang since launching its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. According to South Korean military intelligence, North Korea has supplied Russia with more than 12 million artillery rounds and ballistic missiles. It has also sent around 13,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region, of whom about 2,300 have been killed, the intelligence service estimates. Bloomberg Economics estimates that North Korea has earned over $14 billion from military support for Russia since 2022, including $849 million from sending troops. Ukrainian officials have warned that Pyongyang plans to expand its military presence in Russia. President Volodymyr Zelensky has said North Korea intends to deploy between 30,000 and 50,000 troops. Ukrainian intelligence previously reported plans to send a missile unit with six launchers and around 120 missiles to southern Russia’s Voronezh region. Kyiv has also said North Korea supplied Russia with 40 KN-23 and KN-24 short-range ballistic missiles in 2026. Zelensky said in late July that Russian forces were already using them to strike Ukraine. This article was translated with the help of artificial intelligence and was reviewed by a Moscow Times editor before publication. Learn more about our newsroom's AI policy here. Read this article in Russian at The Moscow Times' Russian service. Read more about: North Korea , Putin Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Putin Hails North Korean Troops as ‘Heroic’ in Letter to Kim Putin sent the letter to mark the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese rule. 2 Min read Russia, North Korea Sign Mutual Defense Deal as Kim Pledges Support for Ukraine Invasion The pledge of military cooperation was part of a strategic treaty signed at a summit in Pyongyang, where Putin was making his first visit in 24 years. 3 Min read In Photos: North Korea Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin was greeted by cheering crowds during a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, marking what North Korea’s Kim Jong Un... 1 Min read Putin, Kim Vow Stronger Russia-North Korea Ties — State Agency Putin told Kim that Moscow and Pyongyang would “continue to expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations.”