Kim Jong Un pledges support to Putin on Russia Day.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has offered "full support and solidarity" to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Russia's national day, praising Putin's "correct decision and guidance" to counter "hostile forces' escalating threats." The message did not mention the conflict in Ukraine, but North Korea has previously described it as a U.S. "proxy war" to destroy Russia and condemned Western military aid to Kyiv. Russia has long opposed increasing pressure on North Korea, which is under multiple UN and Western sanctions over its nuclear weapons and missile programmes.