North Korean leader praises cooperation with Russia, vows to further promote ties

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un praised cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow and vowed to further promote ties with Russia in economy, inter-governmental trade, and science and technology, state-run media reported on Tuesday.

According to the Korean Central News Agency, Kim expressed these views during his meeting with the visiting Russian Minister for Natural Resources and Ecology Alexandr Kozlov in Pyongyang, who is in North Korea for inter-governmental talks.

Kim appreciated the enhancement of bilateral cooperation and said it is deepening in different fields since the conclusion of a new treaty between the two countries.

"It is necessary to mutually and powerfully propel the co-prosperity and development of the two countries by further promoting the inter-governmental trade, economic, scientific and technological exchange and cooperation in a more extensive and diversified way as the DPRK-Russia friendly and cooperative relations have reached a new strategic level," Kim said.

On Sunday, a Russian delegation, led by Alexandr Kozlov, arrived in Pyongyang to hold an inter-governmental meeting for cooperation with North Korea in trade, economy, science and technology.

On Monday, another delegation of the Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Russia, led by Vladimir Zarudnitski, president of the academy, also arrived in Pyongyang to hold talks with North Korean officials.

In June, Pyongyang and Moscow signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement that requires extending military aid to each other in case of aggression from a third country.

The agreement was signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia last year, with two sides reportedly extending help to each other as Moscow's war on Ukraine has surpassed 1,000 days.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid