North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said he would “expand and deepen” joint work with Russia in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Axar.az reports, citing Reuters, that in a reply sent on Monday to Putin’s congratulations for North Korea’s 78th founding anniversary, Kim said Pyongyang’s government had a firm will to broaden cooperation with Russia “in a comprehensive way” based on friendship, mutual assistance, and what he described as the countries’ alliance relations.

Kim also said he was convinced of Russia’s victory in the current “sacred war for defending the security interests of the country and international justice,” language that appeared to refer to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

He pledged his “invariable support” for Putin and the Russian people.