North Korea holds banquet for 78th anniversary of diplomatic relations in Russia... Demonstrating “Invincible Comrades in Arms”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Eun-jung = North Korea held a banquet in Russia to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and reaffirmed its will to strengthen cooperation between the two countries based on the 'blood alliance' relationship.

Korean Central News Agency reported on the 19th that the North Korean Embassy in Russia held a banquet on the 13th to commemorate the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Invited to the banquet were Russian Minister of Natural Resources Aleksandr Kozlov, who serves as the Russian chairman of the North Korea-Russia Trade, Economic and Science and Technology Cooperation Committee, as well as government, national assembly, political parties and organizations figures from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior, Federal Council, National Assembly and Federal Communist Party.

In his speech, North Korean Ambassador to Russia Shin Hong-chul said that friendly relations between North Korea and Russia are "entering an unprecedented phase of escalation due to the most sincere comradely relationship" between Chairman Kim Jong-un and President Vladimir Putin.

Ambassador Shin emphasized that the meeting between the leaders of the two countries "once again demonstrated the solidity and truth of the friendly relationship between North Korea and Russia, and made a leap forward in the relationship between the two countries into a comprehensive strategic partnership and an invincible comrade-in-arms relationship. It is the government of our Republic's firm policy to steadily expand and develop common projects."

Minister Kozlov responded that the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries is "commemorated as the day when multifaceted and mutually beneficial cooperation between two equal sovereign countries began," and that the North Korea-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in 2024 is "a sign that shows the two countries' orientation toward respect, trust, and common prosperity."

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister said, "The clearest demonstration of unity is the participation of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk region liberation operation," adding, "Amidst the changes in the current situation, the two countries maintain a common position on major regional and international issues."

The Deputy Minister of Defense expressed confidence that strengthening the partnership between the two countries "will make a significant contribution to ensuring regional and global security."

The news agency added that in commemoration of the 78th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the North Korean missions in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, Russia, also held banquets on the 13th and 16th, respectively.

In Pyongyang, on the 14th, Russian Ambassador to North Korea Andrei Leonidovich Podyolyshev held a commemorative banquet at the Taedong River Diplomatic Association Hall.