Korea's Kim hails 'invincible alliance' with Russia

SEOUL:

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has praised his troops fighting abroad as forging an "invincible alliance" with Russia in a new year's message, state media said Thursday.

Pyongyang has sent thousands of troops to support Russia's nearly four-year invasion of Ukraine, according to South Korean and Western intelligence agencies.

At least 600 have died and thousands more have sustained injuries, according to South Korean estimates.

Analysts say North Korea is receiving financial aid, military technology and food and energy supplies from Russia in return.

On Thursday Kim praised his men fighting in an "alien land", congratulating their "heroic" defence of the nation's honour and instructing them to "be brave", the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said.

"As the whole country is enveloped in a festive atmosphere of greeting the new year, I all the more miss you, who are fighting bravely on the battlefields in the alien land even at this moment," he said, according to KCNA.

"Behind you are Pyongyang and Moscow," Kim said.

The North Korean leader praised soldiers for strengthening the "invincible alliance" with Russia, calling on them to fight "for the fraternal Russian people".

And Kim hinted that more overseas action would take place this year, highlighting "remarkable feats you will perform on the overseas battlefields".

Analysts say that North Korea's deepening alliance with Russia has offered an economic lifeline to Kim's regime and allowed him to rebuff US and South Korean overtures for dialogue.