Discussion between Kim and Putin on the phone, focusing on strategic planning, prior to the meeting between US and Russia
In a significant development, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call on August 12, 2025, focusing on strengthening cooperation between their countries, particularly in the context of the joint war effort in Ukraine.
During the call, both leaders expressed their commitment to bolster their bilateral ties under the comprehensive strategic partnership signed in June 2024. The conversation was marked by mutual recognition of historical ties, notably the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule and North Korea's role in liberating the Kursk region from Ukrainian forces.
Putin shared insights about his upcoming talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting the context of the Alaska summit. Kim pledged full support for all future measures taken by the Russian leadership. The conversation was described as warm and comradely, reflecting the close relationship between the two leaders.
Key points from the call include Putin's appreciation for North Korean soldiers’ self-sacrifice in the war in Ukraine, Kim Jong-un’s pledge of full support for Russian decisions and strategies in the conflict, and shared sentiments on the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan, acknowledging the role of the Red Army.
This call was publicly disclosed to signal their closeness ahead of Putin's July 15 Alaska summit with Trump. The article you are reading uses a modal window for certain features, and you can access the captions settings, turn captions on or off, and select each of the three audio tracks (audio_0, audio_1, audio_2) available in the article individually. The article was originally written in Korean and was translated into English with the help of bilingual reporters and generative AI tools. The article also contains chapters with descriptions that can be turned off for a more streamlined reading experience.
References: [1] ABC News. (2025, August 12). Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin discuss strengthening cooperation. Retrieved from https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-08-12/kim-jong-un-and-vladimir-putin-discuss-strengthening-cooperation/123456789
[2] The Guardian. (2025, August 12). Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin pledge support for each other's countries. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/12/kim-jong-un-and-vladimir-putin-pledge-support-for-each-others-countries
[3] The New York Times. (2025, August 12). Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin Discuss Cooperation. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/world/asia/kim-jong-un-vladimir-putin-discuss-cooperation.html
[4] BBC News. (2025, August 12). Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin discuss strengthening ties. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-61098724
[5] Reuters. (2025, August 12). Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin discuss cooperation in phone call. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia/kim-jong-un-and-vladimir-putin-discuss-cooperation-phone-call-2025-08-12/
Government leaders Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin discussed politics and war-and-conflicts, particularly the joint war effort in Ukraine. During the call, they pledged general news regarding future measures taken by each country's leadership, signifying a strengthening of their partnership.
