Kim praises Putin's achievements in building 'powerful Russia'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
7 Oct 2022 10:31
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The North Korean leader says Russian Vladimir Putin is "enjoying high respects and support from the broad masses of people."

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un with Russian President Vladimir Putin (Archive)

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated on Friday Russian President Vladimir Putin on his 70th birthday, praising his achievements in "building powerful Russia" and expressing hope for the development of bilateral relations, Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported.

In his congratulatory message, Kim indicated that Putin has "made signal achievements in attaining the grand strategic target for building powerful Russia through your energetic activities, assuming the heavy responsibility of the state head for many years."

The North Korean leader pointed out that Putin is "enjoying high respects and support from the broad masses of people."

"Today, Russia is reliably defending the dignity of the state and its fundamental interests from the challenges and threats by the U.S. and its vassal forces. Such reality is unthinkable without your distinguished leadership and strong will," Kim told the Russian President.

He also expressed hope that the personal ties between the two leaders "will play a bigger role in steadily consolidating and developing the DPRK-Russia friendship."

Earlier Kremlin Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov indicated that Putin will be in St. Petersburg to attend an informal meeting of the leaders of the Commonwealth of Independent States, as well as make several international telephone calls.

Russia, North Korea to expand relations

It is noteworthy that in mid-August, Pyongyang's state media stated that Putin promised Kim that the two countries will "expand the comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations with joint common efforts."

On North Korea's liberation day, Putin stated in a letter to Kim that closer ties would be in the interest of both countries, and would further help strengthen the security and stability of the Korean peninsula and the Northeastern Asian region, KCNA reported.

In July, North Korea's Embassy in Moscow told Sputnik that it announced its recognition of the independence of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Pyongyang pledged on April 24 to continue strengthening and developing relations with Russia on the eve of the third anniversary of the summit between the two presidents. The summit was held for the first time in the eastern Russian city of Vladivostok on April 25, 2019.