Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia and North Korea can create closer relations, which will strengthen the confidence and increase the well-being of the citizens of both countries by uniting them in their opposition to pressure from the West.
This was reported by TASS, quoted by BTA, referring to Putin's statement today to the head of North Korea's "Nodon Sinmun", on the day when the Russian president arrives for a visit to the country.
The agency quoted Putin as saying that North Korea is and remains a "faithful, like-minded" of Moscow.
All attempts by the West to contain and isolate Russia have failed, the Russian president told the North Korean newspaper on the eve of his visit to the country.
"But no matter how hard they try, all their attempts to contain, isolate Russia have failed. We continue to confidently build our economic potential, to develop industry, technology, infrastructure, science, education, culture," he said.
Putin said that Pyongyang's achievements in strengthening defense and developing various sectors can be considered a real breakthrough.
"The US and its satellites openly state that their goal is to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia. They are doing everything possible to slow down and inflame with greater force the conflict in Ukraine, which they themselves caused by supporting and organizing the military coup in Kiev in 2014, and then the war in Donbass," Putin said.< /p>
The Russian leader stressed that Moscow is open to dialogue to resolve existing problems. "Russia has been and will continue to be open to equal dialogue on the most difficult issues," he said.
"Pyongyang was and remains our staunch associate and supporter, determined to oppose the desire of the collective West to impede the establishment of a multipolar world order based on justice, mutual respect for sovereignty, respect for each other's interests," he added. Putin.
An editorial in Nodon Sinmun, the printed organ of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, noted that the people and government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea fully support Russia in connection with the special military operation in Ukraine, which the newspaper defined as "holy war" for the protection of the sovereign rights of the Russian Federation, reported Reuters.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that he will take relations with North Korea to a higher level and promised constant support, the North Korean news agency KCTA reported on the occasion of Putin's visit to the country starting today.