Kim Jong-un Sends Congratulatory Message to Putin, Expresses Confidence in Expanding Friendly Cooperation Relations

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, sent a congratulatory message to President Vladimir Putin on June 12, Russia's national holiday, 'Russia Day.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

The Korean Central News Agency reported that on this day, General Secretary Kim sent a full text of the message in the name of President Putin, stating, "On the occasion of the Russia Federation's National Day (...) I send warm congratulations to you and the friendly government and people of the Russian Federation."

In the congratulatory message, General Secretary Kim recalled the North Korea-Russia summit held in Vladivostok, Russia, in 2019. He expressed confidence that "the friendly and cooperative relations between Korea and Russia, which have entered a new stage of development since our first meeting, will continuously expand and strengthen in all fields."

He further emphasized, "Cherishing the long-standing friendship between Korea and Russia with its history and tradition and developing it further in accordance with the demands of the new era is the common aspiration and desire of the peoples of both countries."

This congratulatory message was delivered on the occasion of 'Russia Day' (June 12), a national holiday established to commemorate the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Republic by the Congress of People's Deputies, the parliament of the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

The full text of the congratulatory message was made public on the day it was sent. It was also published on the front page of the Rodong Sinmun, the Workers' Party's official newspaper, which is read by the entire population.

Recently, North Korea has been showcasing close relations with traditional allied countries such as China, Russia, and Cuba.

In March, it sent a verbal letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, and in April and on the 4th of this month, it sent congratulatory messages to Miguel D?az-Canel, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba, and former General Secretary Ra?l Castro, respectively, demonstrating attention to both new and old leaders.