Volodin Meets Choe Ryonghae in Pyongyang
Discusses Ways to Enhance Bilateral Cooperation
Kim Jongun, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, met with Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of Russia, who visited Pyongyang.
Kim Jongun, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea (left), and Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma of Russia. Photo by Yonhap News
According to Russia's TASS news agency and North Korea's Korean Central News Agency on the 15th, Chairman Volodin paid a courtesy visit to Chairman Kim the previous day, delivering greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin and congratulations on the 80th anniversary of "Liberation Day." Volodin led a delegation from the State Duma to North Korea at the invitation of the Supreme People's Assembly to participate in the 80th anniversary celebrations of Liberation Day. North Korea refers to Liberation Day as "the Day of National Liberation" and commemorates it as such.
Chairman Volodin, a close aide to President Putin, expressed his gratitude to Chairman Kim for North Korea's support in Russia's efforts to repel Ukrainian forces in Kursk. In addition, Chairman Kim mentioned his phone conversation with President Putin on the 12th, during which they agreed to further strengthen their contacts in the future. President Putin is scheduled to meet with President Trump in Alaska, United States, on the 15th (local time) to discuss plans for ending the war in Ukraine, and he had previously shared related information with Chairman Kim over the phone.
Chairman Kim stated that the visit by Chairman Volodin and the Russian delegation "will further advance the development of North Korea-Russia relations, which have reached new heights, and serve as an opportunity to deepen the intimacy and fraternal feelings between the peoples of the two countries." He went on to say, "I hope that the parliaments of both countries will work together to ensure the smooth implementation of treaties and agreements between our nations in all fields."
On the previous day, Chairman Volodin and his delegation met with Choe Ryonghae, President of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation. After the talks, the Supreme People's Assembly hosted a banquet at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in Pyongyang to welcome the Russian delegation.
During the 80th anniversary Liberation Day ceremony held in Pyongyang, Chairman Volodin mentioned North Korea's dispatch of troops to the war in Ukraine, stating, "The Russian people will forever remember their courage and dedication." He added that the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed last year would further strengthen Russia-North Korea cooperation, and said, "Joint actions by Russia and North Korea can make significant contributions to effectively safeguarding sovereignty and establishing a just, multipolar world order."
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