North Korean leader Kim Jong-un reiterated his promise to deepen the country's ties is with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
Kim responded to the congratulations sent by the Russian head of state on the occasion of the Proclamation Day of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, which is celebrated on August 15.
"Our countries honor the memory of the wars of the Red Army and the Korean patriots who fought side by side for the liberation of Korea. It is important that the ties of friendship and mutual assistance created during these difficult war years remain a reliable basis for the development of good-neighborly relations between our countries," Putin said in his congratulatory address.
"The friendly feelings of the armies and peoples of the two countries, created and deepened in the bloody struggle against the common enemy, serve as a strong driving force for the development of... relations of friendship and cooperation into a comprehensive strategic partnership and invincible comradeship", said Kim in his response to the Russian leader.
Kim and Putin met for the second time in less than a year in June in Pyongyang and signed a "comprehensive strategic partnership" treaty that includes a mutual defense agreement. This comes amid accusations from Seoul, Kiev and Washington that Kim is helping Russia in its war against Ukraine by supplying missiles and shells in exchange for economic and other support from Moscow.
The founder of the state of North Korea, Kim Il-sung, grandfather of the current leader, was supported by Joseph Stalin, who at the end of the Second World War declared war on Japan.
North Korean state media made no mention of the unification plan announced yesterday by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, who called for dialogue with Pyongyang and proposed convening an international conference on human rights in North Korea.
Yun's project has been met with skepticism by some experts, who say it is hardly realistic to expect Pyongyang to perceive it as anything other than an existential threat to its regime, Reuters notes.