North Korea’s Kim, Russia’s Putin trade letters vowing stronger ties

AFP

North Korean chief Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters on Tuesday pledging to develop their ties into what Kim known as a “long-standing strategic relationship,” Pyongyang’s state media KCNA mentioned.

The letters mark the 78th anniversary of Korea’s liberation from Japan’s 1910-45 colonial rule, which can be celebrated as a nationwide vacation in South Korea.

In his letter to Putin, Kim mentioned the 2 international locations’ friendship was cast in World War II with victory over Japan and is now “fully demonstrating their invincibility and might in the struggle to smash the imperialists’ arbitrary practices and hegemony,” KCNA mentioned.

“I am firmly convinced that the friendship and solidarity… will be further developed into a long-standing strategic relationship in conformity with the demand of the new era,” Kim was quoted as saying within the letter.

“The two countries will always emerge victorious, strongly supporting and cooperating with each other in the course of achieving their common goal and cause.”

The United States has accused North Korea of offering weapons to Russia for its battle in Ukraine, together with artillery shells, shoulder-fired rockets and missiles. Pyongyang and Moscow have denied any arms transactions.

Last month, Russia’s defence minister stood shoulder to shoulder with Kim as they reviewed North Korea’s latest nuclear-capable missiles and assault drones at a navy parade in Pyongyang.

Putin, in his message to Kim, additionally pledged to bolster bilateral ties.

“I am sure that we will strengthen the bilateral cooperation in all fields for the two peoples’ well-being and the firm stability and security of the Korean peninsula and the whole of Northeast Asia,” Putin mentioned, in line with KCNA.

The leaders of South Korea, the United States and Japan are set to debate safety cooperation over North Korea, Ukraine and different points at a trilateral summit on August 18 at Camp David.

In a separate KCNA dispatch, Pyongyang’s vice overseas minister, Kim Son Gyong, criticised the United States for calling a UN Security Council assembly on North Korea’s human rights state of affairs.

The assembly, set for Thursday and requested by the US, Albania and Japan, could be the primary formal public gathering of the 15-member council on the difficulty since 2017, however China opposed it, saying it could solely “intensify confrontation and antagonism”.

Kim, the vice minister, mentioned the deliberate assembly “openly exposed the ugly hostile face of the US filled with a sense of confrontation,” whereas highlighting the fact of the council which has “fallen into dysfunction under the US’ forced authority and abuse of power.”