Kim Jong-un ‘holds hands’ with Vladimir Putin as Russia-North Korea ties deepen

Vladimir Putin meets Kim Jong-un in 2019. North Korea has backed Russia in its war against Ukraine Photograph: KCNA/EPA

Kim Jong-un has vowed to “hold hands” with Vladimir Putin in a message that marked another sign of deepening ties between North Korea and Russia.

In a message to Putin to mark Russia’s national day on Monday, the North Korean ruler pledged his regime’s “full support” for Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, the official KCNA news agency said.