April 13 marks the 55th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea(DPRK) and Palestine.

On April 13, 1966, the government of the DPRK recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representation of the Palestinian people and established diplomatic relations with Palestine.

The friendly relations between the two countries have since continuously developed into that of comrades-in-arms based on principle and obligation through their common struggle for independence, sovereignty, justice and peace.

President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il always provided both material and moral support to the Palestinian people in their righteous cause for terminating the Israeli occupation and establishing an independent state with Kuds as its capital.

President Kim Il Sung met with H.E. Yasser Arafat, former President of the State of Palestine, who visited our country several times, and other high-level delegations of Palestine, and expressed full support to and solidarity with their struggle and provided unreserved assistance to them. And when the State of Palestine was proclaimed on November 15, 1988, President Kim Il Sung saw to it that the government of the DPRK would be the first to recognize it.

Chairman Kim Jong Il made sure that the DPRK expressed its stance in full support of the efforts of the Palestinian people for gaining status of an independent state at the United Nations and other international arena.

The tradition of friendly relations between the two countries forged by the proceeding leaders is now being inherited on an excellent term by Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and H.E. Mahmoud Abbas, President of the State of Palestine.

Our people extend invariable support and encouragement to the righteous struggle of the Palestinian people for regaining the occupied territory and restoring the legitimate national rights, and the Palestinian people actively support the struggle of our people for realizing independent and peaceful reunification of the country without being subject to any foreign interference, all of which adding to the increased cooperation in the international arena.

Palestine was granted an observer status at the United Nations in November 2011, buttressed by the support of many countries of the world, and thereafter, it became full members of several international organizations including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Currently, Palestine enjoys official recognition from over 140 countries, and it established diplomatic relations with more than 120 countries. It is making active efforts to obtain status of a full member of the United Nations.

We always extend our full support and solidarity to the righteous cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights, including the right to self-determination, the right to return home and the right to establish an independent state with East Kuds as the capital city.

The aspiration and desire of the Palestinian people to build an independent state on their motherland and to lead a happy life will surely come true, and the tradition of friendly relations between the two countries will ever continue.

Kim Song Chol

Member of Korea-Arab Association