Russia, North Korea ‘actively cooperating in all sectors’, says Putin in message to Kim

Pyongyang, Aug 15 (IANS) Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), also known as North Korea, “are actively cooperating in all sectors while making concerted efforts to ensure regional security and stability,” the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Saturday.

Putin made the remarks on Friday in a message of greetings to Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, on the occasion of Liberation Day, the KCNA said.

The ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have now been raised to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and the two countries will “conduct constructive joint undertakings on the pressing bilateral and international issues,” said the message.

The DPRK celebrates its Liberation Day on August 15, in commemoration of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japan’s colonial rule on August 15, 1945, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Last month, Putin thanked the North Korean authorities for their decision to send soldiers from the Korean People’s Army to participate in the ‘liberation of the Kursk region,’ local media reported.

During a meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui, President Putin expressed gratitude for Russia’s support for the Joint Military Operation, Russia’s state-owned Tass news agency reported.

“I would like to once again express my gratitude for the support of our special military operation and for the decision to send soldiers from the Korean People’s Army to participate in the liberation of the Kursk region,” the head of state said.

Choe left Pyongyang on her official plane to visit Russia at the invitation of her Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). It did not disclose further details, including the purpose of the visit or her itinerary.

This marked Choe’s first trip to Russia since October, when she visited Moscow on a “working visit” and Belarus to attend a global security forum.

–IANS

ksk/as