North Korea's Kim Thanks Putin For Implementing "Sacred Cause" Of Fighting "Imperialists"

North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has sent a glowingly supportive message to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of Russia’s National Day.

Kim has pledged his "full support and solidarity", according to state media. Celebrated every year on June 12 since 1992, the national day commemorates the creation of the post-Soviet Russian Federation, including the establishment of the Russian presidency and constitution. 

Kim said, according to state media KCNA: "The DPRK people are extending full support and solidarity to the people of your country in their all-out struggle for implementing the sacred cause to preserve the sovereign rights, development and interests of the country against imperialists’ high-handed and arbitrary practices."

Mention of Russia fighting the "imperialists" is a clear reference to NATO and the West amid the backdrop of the ongoing Ukraine war, which the Kremlin has long called a proxy war driven fundamentally by the US and its European allies. 

Kim said further in his message that the "Russian people will continue to add glory to the history of victory” and affirmed a “willingness to strive for closer strategic cooperation" between the two nations.

Kim also "thanked" Putin and the "Russian people" on the occasion: 

"Thanks to your correct decisions and guidance, the struggle of Russian people to foil the hostile forces’ escalating threats and challenges to deprive Russia of its sovereignty, security and peaceful life has entered a new decisive phase."

Last year, US intelligence and the Biden administration began alleging a deepening military relationship between Pyongyang and Moscow. While there was never smoking gun evidence, the US charged the north was shipping huge amounts of artillery shells to Russia in order to resupply its forces operating in Ukraine. 

Both Russia and the Koreans have denied this, but more recent reports have said the Wagner private military firm has been supplied by the north of late.