Russia vows to expand relations with North Korea

Russia is planning to expand its “comprehensive and constructive bilateral relations” with North Korea, President Putin has said. 

The Russian president sent a letter to his North Korean counterpart Kim Jong Un on Pyongyang’s liberation day, saying the move would be beneficial for both countries. 

Mr Kim said the nations’ friendship had been forced in WW2 with victory over Japan and added their friendship would grow stronger. 

According to a report, seen by North Korean state media, Mr Putin said the expanded bilateral relations would “conform with the interests of the two countries”.

It added “strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity” between the two countries “had been put on a new high stage, in the common front for frustrating the hostile forces’ military threat and provocation”.