Kim Jong Un vows to pass down North Korea-Russia friendship, Putin expects continued joint projects

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang on August 14, the eve of Liberation Day, pledging to "firmly inherit and develop the great friendship between the two countries (North Korea and Russia) generation after generation." The visit, accompanied by his wife Ri Sol Ju and daughter Ju Ae, underscored the deepening alliance between Pyongyang and Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a congratulatory message to Kim, stating his confidence that "we will continue our constructive joint endeavors." Putin's message highlighted the "unprecedentedly high level" of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea, suggesting ongoing cooperation on bilateral and international issues aimed at establishing a "more just and truly democratic world order."

“

The great friendship between the two countries, forged with noble ideals and true combat camaraderie, will be firmly inherited and developed generation after generation along with the new era of comprehensive development.

Kim's visit to the Soviet war memorial, a symbol commemorating Soviet soldiers who liberated Korea from Japanese rule in 1945, marks his third consecutive year paying respects on Liberation Day. The presence of his daughter, Ju Ae, is particularly noteworthy, interpreted as a signal of her role as a symbol of the next generation and a potential successor within the Kim dynasty, reinforcing the message of a lasting "blood alliance" between North Korea and Russia.

In addition to the Liberation Tower, Kim also visited the Revolutionary Martyrs' Cemetery and the Monument to the Fallen Heroes of the Anti-Japanese Revolution. The accompanying officials included Ri Il Hwan, a secretary and department director in the Workers' Party of Korea, who had not appeared in public for some time. Meanwhile, Russian officials also marked the occasion, with the Defense Minister Andrei Belousov attending a commemorative event in Moscow and mentioning plans to erect a monument to Korean and Russian soldiers in Kursk. Russia's Natural Resources Minister Alexander Kozlov announced the imminent completion of a road bridge across the Tumen River, facilitating vehicle traffic between the two countries.

“

I am confident that we will continue our constructive joint endeavors for the benefit of the Russian and Korean peoples, and for the establishment of a more just and truly democratic world order.