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North Korea, Russia to hold first Year of Friendship

The North Korean foreign minister expressed confidence that the relations between Pyongyang and Moscow this year will "develop comprehensively in the spirit of mutual understanding"

PYONGYANG, February 10. /TASS/. North Korea and Russia are set to hold the Year of Friendship between the two countries "for the first time in the bilateral relations history," North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Su Yong has said in a telegram to his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov.

The telegram to Lavrov has been sent on the occasion of the 15th anniversary since the countries signed the landmark Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbor Relations and Cooperation.

The 2000 treaty, which replaced that of 1961, "has allowed to more dynamically develop the relations between the two countries, which have a long history and traditions," the minister said in the telegram.

This year, North Korea and Russia also mark the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War and the 70th anniversary of Korea’s liberation, which have become "the most important events in the cause of protecting the freedom and independence of the two countries and also ensuring global peace and security."

The North Korean foreign minister also expressed confidence that the relations between Pyongyang and Moscow this year will "develop comprehensively in the spirit of mutual understanding reached between the leaders of the two countries and the interstate agreement."

In the telegram, the text of which was published in Tuesday’s newspapers, the North Korean top diplomat wished his Russian counterpart great success in his responsible work.