North Korean leader Kim Jong-un expresses intention to hold hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has expressed his intention to hold hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In a message to mark Russia’s national day on Monday, Kim pledged his regime’s full support for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the official KCNA news agency reported. Kim called for closer strategic cooperation with Moscow, it added. The message marked another sign of



deepening ties between North Korea and Russia. 

North Korea has actively pursued closer relations with Russia and has aligned itself with Moscow following its invasion of Ukraine, attributing this support to its condemnation of the hegemonic policy and high-handedness of the United States and the Western powers.