(Corrects yr of liberation to 1945 (not 1948) in paragraph 8, removes extraneous phrases in paragraph 6)
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 mentioned 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 mentioned the bond solid as Soviet troopers fought in opposition to Japan continues to function the idea of their ties, KCNA mentioned.
“The pleasant emotions of the armies and peoples of the 2 nations solid and deepened within the bloody battle in opposition to the widespread enemy function a robust driving power for growing … relations of friendship and cooperation into complete strategic partnership and invincible comradeship,” Kim mentioned.
Kim and Putin held a second summit assembly in lower than a yr in June in Pyongyang, signing a pact on “complete strategic partnership” that features mutual defence settlement.
It got here amid accusations by South Korea, Ukraine and america that Kim helps Russia within the battle 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 Korean revolutionary troopers who fought in resistance to Japan to finish the 1910-1945 colonial rule and the Liberation Tower the place Soviet Crimson Military troopers are remembered, KCNA mentioned.
North Korea’s state founder Kim Il Sung, who’s the present chief’s grandfather, was backed by Soviet Union Normal Secretary Joseph Stalin who declared battle in opposition to Japan close to the tip of World Warfare Two.
The Soviets backed Kim’s communist forces that ultimately established North Korea after Korea’s liberation in 1945.
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 specialists, who doubt whether or not it’s reasonable to anticipate Pyongyang to see it as something aside from an existential risk to its regime.