Kim Jong Un greeted the soldiers of the 528th Engineer Regiment, who are fighting in Ukraine, reaffirming the alliance with Russia and encouraging them to continue the fight.

In a New Year message addressed to the armed forces, Kim Jong Un encouraged the soldiers of the 528th Engineer Regiment, who returned from a mission in Russia, emphasizing their importance in the context of the war in Ukraine. The North Korean leader expressed his longing for the troops fighting "on foreign soil" and reaffirmed Pyongyang's support for Moscow, mentioning that the soldiers contribute to strengthening an "invincible alliance" with Russia.

Kim Jong Un urged the troops to fight "for the brotherly Russian people," while South Korean intelligence agencies estimate that thousands of North Korean soldiers have been sent to Ukraine, with at least 600 of them losing their lives. In return, Russia provides North Korea with financial assistance, military technology, and food supplies.