Russia vows to expand relations with North Korea

GBNEWS24DESK//

Russia and North Korea will expand their “comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations”, President Vladimir Putin has said.

In a letter sent to his counterpart Kim Jong-un on Pyongyang’s liberation day, Mr Putin said the move would be in both countries’ interests, reports BBC.

In turn, Mr Kim said friendship between both nations had been forged in World War Two with victory over Japan.

He added that their “comradely friendship” would grow stronger.

The Soviet Union was once a major communist ally of North Korea, offering economic co-operation, cultural exchanges and aid.

According to North Korean state news agency KCNA, Mr Putin said expanded bilateral relations would “conform with the interests of the two countries”.

In his letter, Mr Kim said the Russia-North Korea friendship “forged in the anti-Japanese war” had been “consolidated and developed century after century”.

It added “strategic and tactical co-operation, support and solidarity” between the two countries “had been put on a new high stage, in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation”.