TOKYO, January 27. /TASS/. The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will always "stand in the same trench" side by side with the Russian army and people, Kim Yo-jong, the Deputy Department Director of the Publicity and Information Department of the Workers' Party of Korea, sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said on Friday.

In a statement released by the KCNA news agency, she vowed that the DPRK will "always stand in the same trench, together with the army and the people of Russia, who have stood up to defend the dignity and honor of the state and the sovereignty and security of their country."

She slammed the US decision to hand over Abrams tanks to Ukraine as "a vile step."

"I have no doubt that any weapons that the United States and the West are proud of will burn to dust and turn into scrap metal in the face of the relentless combat spirit and might of the heroic army and people of Russia," Kim Yo-jong added.

The sister of the North Korean leader also stressed that Ukraine "is not a desert in the Middle East, where 20 years ago US tanks were free to take any liberty," and expressed the opinion that if it were not for the United States, then "the world would become a brighter, safer and more peaceful place."

"No amount of reckless attempts will let the imperialist coalition forces overpower the heroic spirit of the army and people of Russia, distinguished by fiery patriotism, resilience and strong morale," Kim Yo-jong said.

On January 25, the United States announced its intention to provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev. The German government confirmed that it would send 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine from the Bundeswehr reserves and issue re-export permits to other countries. Earlier, plans to provide Kiev with tanks were announced by the authorities of a number of Western countries. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the media that the Kremlin perceived that as the Western countries’ "direct involvement in the conflict".