Putin Congratulates His Ally Kim Jong Un on Being Re-elected as President

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his re-election as President. Putin expressed hopes for stronger bilateral relations. According to Yonhap on Monday (23/3/2026), North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that Kim was reappointed to the highest position on the State Affairs Commission during the first session of the Supreme People’s Assembly held on Sunday (22/3). Kim Jong Un’s re-election marks his third consecutive term since the commission was established in 2016 as the country’s supreme policy-making body. “Dear Comrade Kim Jong Un, please accept my sincere congratulations on your re-election as Chairman of State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,” Putin said in a message posted on the Kremlin’s Telegram channel. “Russia highly values your personal contribution to strengthening the friendly and allied relations between our countries. We will certainly continue our close cooperation to further develop the comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang. This undoubtedly serves the fundamental interests of both our countries,” he added. Russia and North Korea have deepened their relations in recent years, signing a joint defence agreement in 2024. North Korea has also sent troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. Kim is the third-generation ruler of the nuclear-armed nation founded by his grandfather Kim Il Sung in 1948. He has ruled the country since his father’s death in 2011. Photos released by KCNA show Kim wearing a Western-style formal suit and sitting in the centre of the stage, flanked by senior officials in front of two giant statues of his father, Kim Jong Il, and grandfather. Prior to the event, 687 deputies were elected to the Supreme People’s Assembly, with North Korean citizens over 17 given the choice to approve or reject the sole candidate put forward by the ruling party. The new assembly members were approved with 99.93% support and 0.07% opposition, as previously reported by KCNA, with a participation rate of 99.99%.