Russia, North Korea Sign Strategic Partnership Agreement

Russian President Vladimir Putin and the President of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea), Kim Jong Un, signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea today, at the conclusion of talks in Pyongyang. The Russian president described the prepared agreement as fundamental, noting that it will form the basis of relations between Moscow and Pyongyang for many years to come. Russia's news agency (Sputnik) Quoted Putin as saying that for decades, Russia has been facing the imperialist hegemony policies imposed by Washington and its affiliates, expressing his gratitude to his North Korean counterpart for supporting Russian policy, including his stance on the Ukrainian conflict. He added that Kim Jong Un's visit to Russia last year, resulted in significant progress in building relations between our countries. Putin also expressed hope that the next meeting with the North Korean leader would be held in Moscow. For his part, Kim Jong Un praised Russia's role in maintaining strategic balance in the world, expressing his full support for Russia's special military operation in Ukraine. He said that the government of the North Korea values Russia's strong role in maintaining global stability and strategic balance. He also expressed his country's full support and solidarity with the Russian government, its military, and its people in carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, and territorial integrity. Kim Jong Un expressed his country's intention to strengthen strategic cooperation with Russia, saying that the situation in the world is becoming more complex and changing rapidly. He also voiced intention to strengthen strategic communication with Russia and its leadership. President Putin arrived in Pyongyang last night, accompanied by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, and a number of officials. The last time a Russian president visited North Korea was in 2000, when th e then-president of North Korea, Kim Jong Il, father of the current president, was in power. Source: Qatar News Agency