DPRK & Russia Strengthen Military Cooperation

Kim Jong Un gladly greeted Beloussov, who visited Pyongyang again after five months, and had a friendly and trustworthy talk with him.

Beloussov courteously conveyed the friendly greetings of Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin to Kim Jong Un.

Kim Jong Un expressed deep thanks for this and asked him to convey his warm comradely greetings to the respected Vladimir Putin.

During the talk, there was a wide-ranging exchange of views on the issues of further developing the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, including the defence field, and defending sovereignty, security, interests and international justice of the two countries to cope with the rapidly-changing regional and international security environment, and a satisfactory consensus was reached on the views.

Kim Jong Un said that the visit to the DPRK by Beloussov would greatly contribute to bolstering up the defence capabilities of the two countries and ensuring their security and serve as a useful occasion in promoting the friendly, mutual cooperation and development of the relations between the two armies.

Expressing great concern over the ever-escalating development of the Ukrainian situation, Kim Jong Un expressed the stand that the recent anti-Russia measures taken by the U.S. deserve condemnation by the international community as they are irresponsible acts of fomenting prolonged conflict and threatening all mankind.

Noting that the U.S. and the West made Kiev authorities attack Russia's territory with their own long-range strike weapons, he added that it means their direct military intervention in the conflict and that it is an exercise of the right to self-defence for Russia to take resolute action to make the hostile forces pay the price as it has emerged as an aggressive entity in the anti-Russia war. And he stressed the need to take clear action to give a signal that the provocative forces led by the U.S. will not benefit from their disregard for the warning of Russia.

The recent counterattack against Ukraine by the Russian government and army is a timely and effective measure to inform the U.S., the West and Ukraine, which are resorting to reckless military adventurism, of the gravity of the situation and the will of Russia to take tough counteraction, he said, affirming that the DPRK government, army and people will invariably support the policy of the Russian Federation to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity from the imperialists' moves for hegemony.

The strong DPRK-Russia relations serve as a powerful security device for promoting the well-being of the two peoples, defusing the regional situation and ensuring international strategic stability, he said, expressing the will to more vigorously expand and develop the relations between the two countries in all fields, including politics, economy and military affairs, under the agreement reached at the DPRK-Russia Pyongyang summit in June last.

Kim Jong Un asked Beloussov to convey his best wishes to the respected Russian President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and the Russian government, army and people, and reaffirmed again that Pyongyang would always be with Moscow. -0-

Art Performance Given in Welcome of Russian Military Delegation

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Watches Art Performance together with Minister of Defence and Members of Military Delegation of Russia

The close ties between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, which have developed into invincible relations of alliance and strategic partnership with the realization of independence and justice as a common ideal, are getting stronger day by day, ushering in an era of overall efflorescence along with the special comradely friendship and trust between the heads of state of the two countries.

An art performance was given at the April 25 House of Culture on Friday in welcome of Russian Minister of Defence Andrei Beloussov and the military delegation led by him visiting the DPRK with friendly feelings.

Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, watched the performance with the Russian friends.

When the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un came out to the auditorium together with Russian Minister of Defence Andrei Beloussov, all the audience welcomed them with rapturous applause.

Among the audience were Pak Jong Chon, secretary of the Central Committee of the WPK and vice-chairman of the WPK Central Military Commission, No Kwang Chol, minister of National Defence of the DPRK, officials concerned, commanding officers of the Ministry of National Defence, teachers and students of military academies at different levels and other service personnel of the People's Army, creators and artists in the field of culture and art.

Alexandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to the DPRK, and his embassy members were invited to watch the performance.

Put on the stage of the performance, which began with male chorus and ceremonial military music, were famous songs reflecting the noble patriotic spirit and indomitable mettle of the armies and peoples of the two countries who have displayed matchless bravery and heroism for the dignity and glory of their sacred countries and for great victory.

The audience was deeply impressed by "The Sacred War", "My Russia" and "Motherland" and other songs that reflect the valiant spirit of the Russian army and people who are resolutely defending the sovereignty, security, development and interests of their country while smashing the imperialists' high-handed practices and war of aggression.

The performance showed well the invincibility of the just cause of the peoples of the two countries and the militant friendship of the army and people of the DPRK with the Russian army and people.