The DPRK embassy in Moscow hosted a reception on June 23 to mark the first anniversary of the historic DPRK-Russia Pyongyang summit and the conclusion of the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between the DPRK and the Russian Federation.

Present there at invitation were Alexandr Kozlov, minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of Russia, Andrei Rudenko, vice-minister of Foreign Affairs, and other Russian figures of the government, parliament, organizations and institutions, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ecology, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Interior, the Federation Council, the State Duma and the Russian Association for Friendship and Cultural Cooperation with the DPRK.

It was attended by Sin Hong Chol, the DPRK ambassador to Russia, and his embassy staff members.

The participants laid baskets of flowers and bouquets before the artwork depicting President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim Jong Il standing together and made a bow to them.

Then they looked round photos showing the noble revolutionary careers and exploits of the President and the Chairman and the undying exploits performed by the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un to develop the DPRK-Russia friendship, works of the DPRK leaders and photos showing the invincible might and proud development of the DPRK.

Speeches were made at the reception.

The Russian minister of Natural Resources and Ecology said:

The comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between the Russian Federation and the DPRK set up another milestone in the relations between the two countries.

What is important is not the legal status of this document itself but that it proves the aspiration for respect, trust and mutual prosperity.

I reaffirm that the cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened in all directions and the tasks facing us will be carried out to the letter.

I express my deep thanks to the Korean comrades who are providing aid to us at these hard times. It has further strengthened the fraternal ties between the peoples of the two countries.

The Russian vice-minister of Foreign Affairs said:

President Putin and President of the State Affairs Kim Jong Un signed the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty on June 19 last year, proving that the traditional Russia-DPRK friendship which is confidently developing in a new historic period has reached an unprecedentedly high level.

The historical inevitability of the conclusion of the treaty was proved by the reality of the Kursk liberation process itself.

We highly appreciate the heroism and courage displayed by the Korean service personnel who, shoulder to shoulder with the Russian comrades-in-arms, defended our country like their homeland.

The Russian people will never forget this.

I’m convinced that the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty will, in the future, too, contribute to expanding multi-faceted cooperation, ensuring the prosperity of the peoples of the two countries and strengthening the stability and security of the Korean peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia as a whole in conformity with the agreement reached by the leaders of the two countries.

The participants drank a toast to the health of Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, and the health of Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, and to the development of the DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations.

Meanwhile, the DPRK missions in Vladivostok and Khabarovsk of Russia hosted receptions on June 20 on the same occasion.