North's foreign minister reaffirms stronger ties with Russia

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North's foreign minister reaffirms stronger ties with Russia

Published: 13 Jun. 2023, 09:49 Updated: 13 Jun. 2023, 11:16

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui [YONHAP]

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has sent a congratulatory message to her Russian counterpart over Moscow's key national holiday and vowed stronger cooperation between the two nations, state media said Tuesday.

In the message sent to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday on the occasion of Russia Day, Choe said Pyongyang and Moscow have ushered in a new "heyday" in their friendly relationship, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

"Cooperation and support in terms of bilateral and international affairs have become stronger than at any time," Choe was quoted as saying by KCNA.

She also said the two nations will build stronger "strategic and tactical cooperation" to strengthen the bilateral ties, according to KCNA.

North Korea has expressed its support for Russia despite international condemnation of Moscow's war with Ukraine amid allegations that Pyongyang has provided arms to Moscow for use in the war.

In North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's congratulatory message to Russian President Vladimir Putin over the holiday, he said he is willing to build closer ties with Russia by "holding hands firmly with Putin."

Russia Day is celebrated on June 12 to mark the adoption of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1990.

Yonhap