Pyongyang: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has sent a New Year’s message encouraging and expressing gratitude to troops deployed to fight alongside Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. This message, reportedly handwritten and signed by Kim, underscores his support for the North Korean soldiers involved in the war.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the message was published by The Washington Post, which detailed handwritten pages dated December 31 and January 1. The letters may have originated from Pyongyang or been transcribed by North Korean soldiers who heard their commanders relay Kim’s words. An image of a letter dated December 31, written in blue ink and signed by Kim, expressed his struggle to find words adequate enough to commend the soldiers for their dedication and efforts.

The report, which surfaced after Ukrainian special forces discovered the letter on a North Korean soldier in Russia’s Kursk region, quoted Kim acknowledging the troops’ sacrifices and victories. He noted their experiences in battle, camaraderie, and patriotism away from their homeland, conveying a personal message of longing by stating, “I really miss you comrades.”

Kim’s letter concluded by wishing the troops good health and urging them to maintain courage until their mission ends in victory. It is estimated that North Korea has dispatched approximately 11,000 troops to support Russia in Ukraine, with 300 reported fatalities and around 2,700 wounded, as per South Korea’s National Intelligence Service.