By Jack Kim
SEOUL (Reuters) – North Korean chief Kim Jong Un reaffirmed a pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin as Pyongyang marked an anniversary of independence from Japan’s colonial rule, KCNA state information company stated on Friday.
It was in reply to a message of congratulations from Putin on the Aug. 15 liberation day anniversary the place the Russian chief stated the bond cast as Soviet troopers fought in opposition to Japan continues to function the idea of their ties, KCNA stated.
“The friendly feelings of the armies and peoples of the two countries forged and deepened in the bloody struggle against the common enemy serve as a strong driving force for developing … relations of friendship and cooperation into comprehensive strategic partnership and invincible comradeship,” Kim stated.
Kim and Putin held a second summit assembly in lower than a yr in June in Pyongyang, signing a pact on “comprehensive strategic partnership” that features mutual defence settlement.
It got here amid accusations by South Korea, Ukraine and the US that Kim helps Russia within the conflict in opposition to Ukraine by supplying rockets and missiles in return for financial and different army help from Moscow.
Kim visited a memorial honoring the troopers of the Korean revolutionary troopers who fought in resistance to Japan to finish the 1910-1945 colonial rule and the Liberation Tower the place Soviet Purple Military troopers are remembered, KCNA stated.
North Korea’s state founder Kim Il Sung, who’s the present chief’s grandfather, was backed by Soviet Union Basic Secretary Joseph Stalin who declared conflict in opposition to Japan close to the tip of World Battle Two.
The Soviets backed Kim’s communist forces that finally established North Korea after Korea’s liberation in 1948.
North Korean state media made no point out of a blueprint for unification introduced by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday, calling for dialogue with Pyongyang and proposing a global convention on North Korea’s human rights.
Coming at one of many lowest factors within the two Koreas’ ties, Yoon’s blueprint was accepted with scepticism amongst some consultants, who doubt whether or not it’s reasonable to count on Pyongyang to see it as something apart from an existential menace to its regime.
