North Korea Resumes Face-to-Face Diplomacy with Russia Following China

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] North Korea has resumed face-to-face diplomacy with Russia following China, in opposition to the United States. Amid conflicts with the U.S., North Korea is increasingly focusing on strengthening ties with its traditional allies from the former socialist bloc, such as China, Russia, and Cuba.

In June, the Chinese Embassy in North Korea held a photo exhibition commemorating the 2nd anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to North Korea.

On the 4th, the Korean Central News Agency reported, "To commemorate the 20th anniversary of Comrade Kim Jong-il's historic visit to Russia and the 10th anniversary of his visit to the Siberian and Far Eastern regions, a photo exhibition was held on the 3rd at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in our country."

The exhibition was attended by Aleksandr Matsegora, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, and Im Cheon-il, Deputy Minister in charge of Russia at North Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, among others.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Participants stated, "Continuously consolidating and developing friendly and cooperative relations based on the principles of equality and mutual benefit is an important guarantee for the prosperity of the peoples of both countries," and expressed confidence that "the agreements reached during the highest-level North Korea-Russia meetings and talks will be successfully realized through joint efforts," the news agency reported.

They further emphasized, "The visits of Comrades Kim Jong-il and Kim Jong-un to Russia were significant events that greatly contributed to further developing North Korea-Russia friendship and ensuring regional peace and security," adding, "These visits were historic occasions that laid a solid foundation for creating new momentum in the development of North Korea-Russia relations and expanding multifaceted cooperation between the two countries."

Deputy Minister Im said in a statement released on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that "Currently, the two countries are broadly developing bilateral relations in political, economic, cultural, and other fields by strengthening mutual support and cooperation in line with their common interests," and "Through the joint efforts of the peoples of both countries, the history and tradition of North Korea-Russia friendship will continue unchanged in the future."

He particularly highlighted that the 2019 summit between the North Korean and Russian leaders in Vladivostok "provided another driving force to elevate and develop the strategic and traditional North Korea-Russia friendship to meet the new demands of the era," and stressed, "It is the firm position of the government of the Republic to inherit and develop the North Korea-Russia friendship, which has a long history and tradition, from a strategic perspective in accordance with the demands of the times."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.