North Korea's Kim Jong Un Sends Sympathy Message to Putin over Moscow Concert Massacre

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent a message of sympathy to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, March 23, 2024 over the massacre at a Moscow concert hall, state news agency KCNA reported.

In a message seen by KCNA, Kim expressed deep condolences and sympathy to Putin as well as the Russian government and people, as well as the families left behind by the victims.

"The message states that the North Korean government is consistent in opposing all types of terrorism and that nothing can justify this heinous terrorism that threatens human life," the media said.

Kim Jong Un wrote in the message, “Our people regard the misfortunes and sorrows of the friendly Russian people as their own suffering and provide strong support and solidarity to the struggle of the Russian people to consolidate socio-political unity and stability centered on you and defend the country's security and rights sovereignty."

He also expressed hope that the Russian government and people would be able to "eradicate the impact of the terrorist attack as soon as possible".

Kim Jong Un and Putin have shown growing personal closeness as relations between their countries have grown in recent months. Kim Jong Un visited Russia's far east last year, and Pyongyang sent arms aid to Moscow in its war with Ukraine.

The Islamic State (ISIS) militant group has claimed responsibility for Friday's attack in Moscow. But there are indications that the Russian government is investigating whether Ukraine had any involvement in the shooting. Kiev has issued a firm denial of the accusations.

Moscow region governor Andrei Vorobyov said 133 bodies had been recovered from the rubble in the 24 hours after the shooting, and doctors were fighting to save the lives of 107 people. State TV editor Margarita Simonyan previously put the death toll at 143, without citing a source.

In a televised address, Putin said 11 people had been detained, including four gunmen. “They are trying to hide and move towards Ukraine, where, according to initial information, a window has been prepared for them on the Ukrainian side to cross the country's border,” he said.

The Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) said the gunmen had contacts in Ukraine and were arrested near the border. It was said that they would be transferred to Moscow.

Neither Putin nor the FSB offered any evidence for claims of a link to Ukraine, which has been at war with Russia since its invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin was trying to shift blame for the incident onto others.

REUTERS | KCNA

Editor's Choice: Putin Vows to Punish Those Behind Russia Concert Massacre

Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News