Kim Jong-un, North Korea’s Supreme Leader, has reiterated his promise to reinforce collaboration with Russia in a message sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to North Korean state news agency KCNA. This was in response to Putin’s congratulatory message marking the anniversary of North Korea’s liberation from Japanese colonial rule on August 15.
Putin’s message underlined the enduring partnership between the two nations, formed during the time the Soviet soldiers were battling Japan. Kim underlined the significance of the historical solidarity between the countries, stating it serves as a resilient impetus to enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership and unbeatable comradeship.
The two leaders held their second summit within a year in Pyongyang in June, endorsing a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement which included a mutual defence provision. This followed accusations from South Korea, Ukraine and the US that Kim was assisting Russia’s efforts against Ukraine by providing rocket and missile supplies in exchange for economic and military aid from Moscow.
Kim also paid tribute to Korean revolutionary soldiers who fought against the Japanese regime, ending their colonial rule from 1910-1945, and honoured Soviet Red Army soldiers at the Liberation Tower. His grandfather and North Korea’s founder, Kim Il-sung, had received support from Soviet Union general secretary Joseph Stalin in the final stages of World War II, establishing a communist North Korea.
KCNA made no reference to a proposed plan for unification by South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol, which includes dialogue with Pyongyang and a proposed international human rights conference in North Korea.
Diplomatic relations between North and South Korea are currently strained, and the proposal drafted by Mr Yoon was met with a certain degree of doubt by a number of experts. These individuals question whether it’s fair to anticipate that Pyongyang will view the plan as anything less than a significant risk to its current regime. South Korea’s Minister for Unification, Kim Yung-ho, who is responsible for managing the dynamic between the two Koreas, stated on Friday that he does not agree with the viewpoint that North Korea will dismiss the proposal, or that it won’t respond at all. “North Korea will, in my belief, thoroughly assess our government’s proposition,” he stated in a press conference. -Reuters
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