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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un told Russian President Vladimir Putin he was \u201cproud\u201d of their countries\u2019 strong ties, state media reported Sunday, after providing military support for Moscow\u2019s war against Ukraine.<\/strong><\/p>\n Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, North Korea has become a key ally of the Kremlin, sending troops to support Moscow\u2019s war effort in return for economic benefits and military technology, analysts say.<\/p>\n \u201cI 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,\u201d Kim Jong Un said in his letter to Putin, according to an English-language dispatch by the official Korean Central News Agency.<\/p>\n DPRK is the acronym for the North\u2019s official name, the Democratic People\u2019s Republic of Korea.<\/p>\n Kim Jong Un added that he had a \u201cfirm belief\u201d that Russia would thrive and defend its \u201cterritorial integrity\u201d under Putin\u2019s \u201cwise leadership\u201d.<\/p>\n In a letter to Kim delivered on Friday to mark Korea\u2019s liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II, Putin said relations between the two countries had reached the \u201cunprecedentedly high level of comprehensive strategic partnership\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cOur states are actively cooperating in all the sectors while making concerted efforts to ensure the regional security and stability,\u201d the Russian leader said.<\/p>\n