The DPRK-Russia friendship with a long history and tradition was forged and bolstered up by the preceding leaders of both countries.

From the initial period of the anti-Japanese armed struggle President Kim Il Sung attached great importance to strengthening militant solidarity with the people of the former Soviet Union with a noble internationalist duty and wisely led the struggle to defend the first socialist state with arms.

The leaders of the former Soviet Union highly praised him who supported with blood their country upholding the slogan “Let Us Defend the Soviet Union with Arms!” as a distinguished leader in the Orient and set great store by friendship with the DPRK which had long and solid ties.

October 12 this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the DPRK and Russia.

The peoples of the two countries have strengthened the range of bilateral cooperation in diverse fields including politics, the economy and culture since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

The two nations maintained close relations of friendship even after the former Soviet Union was dissolved and succeeded by the Russian Federation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang in 2000 and adopted the DPRK-Russia joint declaration. Chairman Kim Jong Il visited Russia in 2001, 2002 and 2011 and deepened the friendly feeling between the DPRK and Russia.

The bilateral friendship has been bolstered up under the wise leadership of Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un.

The peoples of the two countries set 2015 marking the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation and the victory in the Great Patriotic War of Russia as the year of bilateral friendship, held a variety of joint events to commemorate them and strengthened friendship and solidarity through active exchange of visits of high-ranking officials.

This year, too, the DPRK-Russia friendship is advancing on the right track of its development invariably.

In May the Supreme Leader met and had a talk with Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov on a visit to Pyongyang.

At the talk they discussed issues of bolstering up political and economic cooperation between the two countries and reached an agreement on activating high-level visits and exchange and cooperation in various fields this year which marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in a bid to continuously develop strategic and traditional bilateral relations in the interests of both countries and in line with the requirements of the new era.

The Russian President sent a congratulatory message to the Supreme Leader on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the DPRK and the chairwoman of the Russian Federation Council visited the DPRK to attend the DPRK’s 70th anniversary celebrations as a show of active exchange of visits by high-ranking officials.

The Russian government extends positive support to the current Korean peninsula situation, which has turned from sharp confrontation and antagonism into a trend towards peace and stability thanks to the brilliant intelligence and bold decision of the Supreme Leader this year.

The common goal of the two nations to frustrate foreign intervention and pressure, defend national sovereignty and reject high-handedness and arbitrariness on the international stage serves as an important factor in building closer ties of friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

To value and boost bilateral friendship is also beneficial to ensuring peace and security in Northeast Asia as well as the two countries.

The peoples of the two countries will, as ever, intensify cooperation and exchange for their common interests and prosperity.