North Korean leader Kim Jong Un congratulated Russian President Vladimir Putin on Victory Day, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reports.

“Allow me to express deep respect to the veterans of the previous generation who, with incomparable valor and noble patriotic spirit, defeated fascism and defended peace and security on Earth in defense of the freedom and liberation of humankind, as well as to those great years,” Kim Jong Un said in the congratulatory message.

The DPRK leader also assured that his country’s government attaches “the utmost importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership of alliance character” between the two countries.

“I once again reaffirm the position of the DPRK government, ready to attach the utmost importance to the comprehensive strategic partnership of alliance character between our two countries, to steadily strengthen and develop it, and I also reaffirm that it will always remain responsible for fulfilling the obligations of the treaty between the DPRK and the Russian Federation,” the congratulatory telegram said.