At a time when the long-standing and traditional DPRK-Russia relations of friendship are entering a new stage, we significantly mark the 20th anniversary of the historic visit by Chairman Kim Jong Il to the Russian Federation and the 10th anniversary of his visit to Siberia and the Far Eastern Region of the Russian Federation.

In August 2001, Chairman Kim Jong Il paid an official visit to the Russian Federation. During the visit, he had a meeting with President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and signed the DPRK-Russia Moscow Declaration. And in August 2011, he had a meeting with President Dmitri Anatoliyevich Medvedev in Ulan-Ude.

The meetings were held in a friendly and candid atmosphere exchanging in-depth views on the issue of bilateral relations and other international issues of mutual concern.

During his visits to Russia, Chairman Kim Jong Il under warm hospitality of the Russian leadership and people left sacred traces of friendship throughout the vast land of Russia covering from Khasan located along the shores of Tuman river to Saint Petersburg in the northwestern extremity, Siberia and the Far Eastern Region.

The historic visits to Russia by Chairman Kim Jong Il marked momentous events greatly conducive to further consolidating and developing the DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation in conformity with the desires and fundamental interests of the two peoples and also ensuring peace and security in northeast Asia and the world.

True to the noble intention and will of the preceding leaders, Comrade Kim Jong Un , President of the State Affairs of the DPRK, waged energetic external activities with a view to greatly develop the DPRK-Russia relations of friendship and cooperation as required by the new era.

In particular, the first historic visit to Russia by Comrade Kim Jong Un and the DPRK-Russia summit held in Vladivostok in April 2019 served as another driving force elevating the strategic and traditional DPRK-Russia relations of friendship in keeping with the demands of the new era.

Today the two countries are developing the bilateral relations in various areas of politics, the economy and culture by strengthening mutual support and cooperation in line with the common interests.

The DPRK government stands firm in its position to inherit and enhance the long-standing and traditional DPRK-Russia friendly relations from the strategic point of view and in conformity with the demands of the era, true to the lifetime instructions of Chairman Kim Jong Il .

The peoples of the two countries will make joint efforts to continue as ever the history and tradition of the DPRK-Russia friendship.

Pyongyang, August 4, Juche 110 (2021)