Pyongyang, June 19 (Sputnik).- Russia appreciates North Korea’s support for its policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during negotiations with his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong-un in an expanded format.
“We very much appreciate your constant and unwavering support for Russian policy, including towards Ukraine,” Putin said.
Russia, he continued, is fighting against “the hegemonic and imperialist policy of the United States and its satellites,” which they have been imposing for decades.
Regarding the interaction between Moscow and Pyongyang, the Russian leader noted that it is based “on the principles of equality and mutual respect for each other’s interests.”
“Russia and North Korea have been linked by a strong friendship and close good neighborliness for many decades,” he said.
This Tuesday, in the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, Russian-Korean negotiations began with the participation of Putin and Kim Jong-un.
The Russian delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov; to the Minister of Defense, Andréi Belousov; the first vice president of the Government Denis Manturov; Deputy Prime Minister Alexandr Nóvak; to the Minister of Natural Resources of Russia; Alexandr Kozlov; to the Minister of Health, Mijaíl Murashko; and the head of Roscosmos, Yuri Borisov, among others.
The North Korean delegation is represented by Prime Minister Kim Tok-hun; Foreign Minister Choi Son-hui; Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission Pak Jong-chon; Secretary of the Political Bureau of the Workers’ Party of Korea, Jo Yong-won; the head of the Foreign Affairs Department of the Central Military Commission, Kim Song-nam; and Deputy Foreign Minister Im Chon-il.
Putin, accompanied by a large delegation of Russian officials, arrived in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday for a two-day state visit.
The visit has a very tight agenda. Several meetings are scheduled for this Wednesday, in particular an expanded meeting and an informal meeting between Putin and Kim.
In addition, the program includes a gala concert in honor of the Russian leader, a state dinner and a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the monument to the soldiers of the Soviet Army who fought for the liberation of Korea during the Second World War (1939- 1945).
This is Putin’s second visit to North Korea; During the previous one, held in 2000, he met with the then supreme leader, Kim Jong-il (1941-2011), father of the current North Korean leader. (Sputnik)
