North Korea’s Kim and Russia’s Putin vow deeper ties on Korean liberation day
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed a pledge to deepen cooperation with Russia in a message to President Vladimir Putin.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
SEOUL – North Korean leader 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, the KCNA state news agency said on Aug 16.
It was in reply to a message of congratulations from Mr Putin on the Aug 15 liberation day anniversary, where the Russian leader said the bond forged as Soviet soldiers fought against Japan continued to serve as the basis of their ties, KCNA said.
“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,” Mr Kim said.
Mr Kim and Mr Putin held a second summit meeting in less than a year in June
It came amid accusations by South Korea, Ukraine and the United States that Mr Kim is helping Russia in the war against Ukraine by supplying rockets and missiles in return for economic and other military assistance from Moscow.
Mr Kim visited a memorial honouring the Korean revolutionary soldiers who fought in resistance to Japan to end the 1910-1945 colonial rule and the Liberation Tower where Soviet Red Army soldiers are remembered, KCNA said.
North Korean state founder Kim Il Sung, who is the current leader’s grandfather, was backed by Soviet Union General Secretary Joseph Stalin, who declared war against Japan near the end of World War II.
The Soviets backed Mr Kim Il Sung’s communist forces, which eventually established North Korea after Korea’s liberation in 1948.
North Korean state media made no mention of a blueprint for unification announced by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Aug 15 that called for dialogue with Pyongyang and proposed an international conference on North Korea’s human rights.
Coming at one of the lowest points in the two Koreas’ ties, Mr Yoon’s blueprint was received with scepticism among some experts, who doubt whether it is realistic to expect Pyongyang to see it as anything other than an existential threat to its regime.
On Aug 16, South Korean Unification Minister Kim Yung-ho, who oversees inter-Korea relations, said he disagreed with those who say North Korea will reject the plan, if it responds at all. “I believe North Korea will carefully review our government proposal,” he told a briefing. REUTERS
