Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin have agreed to “expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with common efforts.” In a letter to the North Korean president on its liberation day, Vladimir Putin claimed the close-knit ties would favor both countries going forward. Putin also suggested ties will strengthen the security and stability of the Korean peninsula and the Northeastern Asian region.

Vladimir Putin also received a letter from Kim Jong Un stating that the “friendship” of North Korea and Russia was formed in World War II as the countries unified to defeat Japan. However, the newly recognized and strategized “strategic and tactical cooperation, support, and solidarity” between the two countries have hit new limits. The relationship continues to thrive on the threats of Western military forces as well, according to Kim Jong Un.

In July, North Korea was the first country to recognize two breakaway countries in Eastern Ukraine as “Russian-Backed.” They were seen as independent states and this raised the relations between both countries with North Korea going as far as to offer citizens to work the labor to rebuild the two newly formed, Russian-backed, independent areas.