“UNSHAKABLE WILL”: Kim Jong Un Vows Pyongyang “Will Always Be with Moscow”
PYONGYANG / MOSCOW — In a forceful reaffirmation of the burgeoning military and strategic alliance between their nations, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, that his country will “always be with Moscow.” The statement, carried by the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), was part of a reply message to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had congratulated Kim on his re-election as President of the State Affairs Commission.
The exchange underscores a “combat brotherhood” that has seen North Korea provide unprecedented support for Russia’s war efforts while receiving critical economic and technical lifelines in return.
The “Alliance of Strong Mutual Support”
Kim’s message described the relationship between North Korea and Russia as an “alliance of strong mutual support,” framing their cooperation as a necessary defense against “hostile forces.”
Key Declarations from Kim Jong Un:
- Strategic Choice: “Pyongyang will always be with Moscow. This is our choice and unshakable will.”
- Defending Sovereignty: Kim noted that both nations are “closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries” against what he previously termed “unilateral force and violence” by the West.
- Nuclear Resolve: In a separate speech to the Supreme People’s Assembly on Monday, Kim pledged to “irreversibly cement” North Korea’s status as a nuclear power, citing the “current world reality”—an apparent reference to the ongoing U.S.-Israeli strikes in the Middle East—as proof that only “the strongest power” ensures survival.
The Military Price of Friendship
The “unshakable” bond between the two nations is backed by significant military involvement. Since 2024, North Korea has become a central player in the conflict in Ukraine, providing both hardware and personnel.
The Alliance by the Numbers (As of March 2026):
- Troop Deployment: South Korean and Western intelligence estimate that over 20,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia, with approximately 11,000 currently stationed in frontline zones like the Kursk region.
- Casualties: South Korea’s spy agency reports that Pyongyang has suffered an estimated 6,000 casualties (killed or wounded) in the conflict.
- Economic Lifeline: Analysts suggest the Kremlin has paid up to $14.4 billion for North Korean military support, primarily through transfers of sensitive military technology, food, and energy.
- Monumental Honor: On Tuesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov promised to erect a monument in the Kursk region to honor North Korean soldiers—a reciprocal gesture to a similar memorial recently unveiled in Pyongyang.
A Shifting Geopolitical Axis
Kim’s pivot toward Moscow comes as North Korea also seeks to strengthen ties with other “anti-Western” partners.
| Partner | Current Status |
| Russia | Full military alliance; “mutual defense” treaty in effect; joint combat operations. |
| Belarus | President Alexander Lukashenko is scheduled for a two-day visit to Pyongyang starting today, March 25. |
| China | Resumption of passenger rail (March 12) and air travel (March 30) suggests a return to pre-pandemic economic engagement. |
| United States | Kim has maintained a hard-line stance, leaving the door open for “confrontation or peaceful coexistence” depending on the Trump administration’s next move. |
What’s Next?
As Belarusian President Lukashenko arrives in Pyongyang today, the world is watching for the formation of a formal “tripartite” coordination between Moscow, Minsk, and Pyongyang. While President Donald Trump focuses on the Thursday summit in Islamabad to end the “Second Iran War,” Kim Jong Un’s “unshakable will” to stand with Moscow suggests that the northern axis of the global conflict remains more unified than ever.