Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

Anniversary of Conclusion of DPRK-Russia Agreement Marked

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK via Korea News Service (KNS)

    Pyongyang, March 17 (KCNA) -- Papers today dedicate articles to the 57th anniversary of the conclusion of the agreement on economic and cultural cooperation between the DPRK and the Russian Federation. The conclusion of the agreement between the DPRK and the Soviet Union on Mar. 17, 1949 was recorded in the history of the bilateral friendship as it marked an occasion of a significant event in propelling the development of friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, papers say.
    A signed article of Minju Joson says that the desire of the governments and peoples of the two countries to develop the bilateral relations of friendship which have long-standing historical traditions is growing stronger in the new century. The article goes on:
    Leader Kim Jong Il's historic visits to the Russian Federation and the Far Eastern region and Russian President Putin's visit to the DPRK were a clear manifestation of the strong desire of the two governments and the two peoples to develop the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries in depth as their visits offered an important occasion of providing a landmark in improving the bilateral relations of friendship in the new century.
    The Korean people are sincerely rejoiced over the friendly relations between the two countries developing favorably in the new century, too.
    The Russian people are now registering many achievements in realizing the cause of building a powerful state under the guidance of President Putin. Russia is increasing its international prestige and its voice and influence on the international issues by holding fast to the increase of defence capacity as a key link for building a powerful state. It is paying due attention to ensuring political stability at home and improving the people's living standard, while concentrating its efforts on improving and developing relations with neighboring countries to cope with the anti-Russian policies of the U.S. and the West.
    The Russian government's stand and efforts to seek an unbiased peaceful solution to the nuclear issue of the Korean Peninsula and improve friendly relations with the DPRK are making a positive contribution to ensuring peace and stability in Asia and other parts of the world.
    The Korean people highly praise the Russian government and people for having striven to expand and develop friendly relations with the DPRK in different fields and hope that everything will go well in Russia in the future, too.