July 19 was the 21st anniversary of the conclusion of the DPRK-Russia Joint Declaration.

The historic joint declaration was born of the summit meeting held in Pyongyang in July 2000 between Chairman Kim Jong Il and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The conclusion of the joint declaration was a historic landmark which provided the solid foundations for developing in an all-round way the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries in line with the changed reality and requirements of the 21st century.

The declaration affirmed that enhancing close mutual cooperation conforms to the fundamental interests of the peoples of the two countries and the trend of the times towards a multipolar world and a new international order based on the principle of equality and mutual respect.

In the declaration both sides welcomed the concerted efforts of the Korean people to independently solve the reunification issue by themselves and reached a consensus of opinion on the point that no outside forces should be allowed to interfere in the process. It also clarified the issue of opposing the use of force in international relations and those acts that threaten the security of sovereign states and the overall global peace, the issue of encouraging and promoting cooperation in several fields between the two countries and the principled stand of the two countries on important international issues.

The joint declaration is the historic document which declared to the world the stand and will of the governments and peoples of the two countries to develop afresh the bilateral friendly and cooperative ties, ensure peace and security in Asia and the rest of the world and contribute to the development of sound international relationship.

The bilateral friendship and cooperative relations have been given a renewed impetus on a high level since the adoption of the joint declaration.

Chairman Kim Jong Il visited Russia in 2001, 2002 and 2011 and made a great contribution to strengthening the mutual bond. During his Russian tours, the leaders of the two countries confirmed the historic significance of the joint declaration and, on this basis, agreed on the detailed direction and measures to ensure peace and security in Northeast Asia and the rest of the world and bolster up bilateral cooperation in several fields including politics, the economy, science and technology and culture.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, who pays great attention to invariably maintaining and improving the bilateral friendship on a new, high level continuously and constructively in line with the requirements of the new era, met President Putin for the first time in Vladivostok of the Russian Federation in April 2019 to forge good friendship with him and further strengthen the strategic and traditional friendship.

The past history proved that the friendly relationship between the two countries totally meets the aspirations, desire and interests of both sides.

The friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries expand and develop as the days go by.

In April, commemorative plaques showing the activities of Chairman Kim Jong Il and General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea Kim Jong Un were unveiled at Vladivostok Railway Station in Russia on the occasion of the second anniversary of the WPK General Secretary’s visit to the Russian Federation.

It is the consistent stand of the peoples of the two countries to promote the strategic and traditional friendly ties as required by the new era and in the interests of the peoples of the two countries.

The DPRK and Russia will as ever make every effort to strengthen and develop bilateral friendly relations and ensure peace in the Korean peninsula, Northeast Asia and the rest of the world in conformity with the spirit of the joint declaration.