North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that his country will always stand with Moscow, state media reported on Thursday.

China has traditionally viewed North Korea as a security buffer and an ideologically aligned neighbor it can dominate.

North Korea has moved a new warship damaged in a botched launch to a port near the Russian border, a move analysts say could point to a role for Moscow in repairing the vessel.

Russia and North Korea plan to restart a direct passenger train service between Moscow and the North Korean capital Pyongyang this month for the first time since 2020, Russia's state-owned rail monopoly said on Monday.

North Korea will "unconditionally" support Russia, including with its operations in Ukraine, leader Kim Jong Un said on Wednesday.

“North Korea has never been as strong – strong militarily as well as strong in oppressing its civilian population – as it is right now,” said Joanna Hosaniak, deputy director general of the Citizens’ Alliance for North Korean Human Rights.

The United States and 10 allies say the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea flagrantly violates U.N. sanctions and has helped Moscow increase its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities

Russian Railways said it had agreed to resume a twice-monthly service between the two capitals on June 17. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.