North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has thanked "Comrade" Vladimir Putin for his support of Pyongyang as the two countries continue to strengthen relations. Kim made the comments as he visited the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang following Russia's Victory Day parade on Friday/

He added that North Korea and Russia have a “blood-sealed bilateral relationship [that] will continue to be in its heyday in the future, making a perfect demonstration of its inexhaustible potential in all realms. Thanks to Comrade President Putin’s outstanding foresight and decision, the Korea-Russia relationship has regained its original features befitting allies and made the choice which could not be substituted by anything else for all its fate.”

Putin hosted leaders and soldiers from various countries as troops marched through Moscow on Friday.

Soldiers from troops from Azerbaijan, Belarus, China, Egypt, Laos, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Myanmar, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam marched in the Red Square.

North Korean generals were also present, although not involved in the march. At one stage, Putin was seen embracing and hugging one of the generals.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was seated next to Putin throughout the event, an indication of Moscow and Beijing's strong ties.

North Korea has aided Russia's military invasion of Ukraine, providing both weapons and soldiers to fight against Ukraine.

Speaking on Friday, Putin proclaimed that the "whole of Russia" supports the war in Ukraine.

He added: “Russia has been and will remain an unbreakable barrier to Nazism, Russophobia, and anti-Semitism.

“We are proud of their courage and determination, of the strength of spirit that has always led us to victory."

On Saturday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer joined other European leaders on a visit to Kyiv to show support for Ukraine.

Ukraine and its European allies have demanded that Vladimir Putin agree to “full, unconditional ceasefire” for at least 30 days beginning on Monday.