The Korean Central News Agency announced that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchanged letters today, Tuesday, in which they committed to developing their relationship into what Kim described as a "prolonged strategic relationship." The exchanges come on the occasion of the 87th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, which lasted from 1910 to 1945, and is also a public holiday in South Korea.
The agency reported that Kim, in his letter to Putin, stated that the friendship between the two countries began during World War II with the victory over Japan and now "fully displays their strength and that they are invincible in the struggle to break the hegemony of colonialists and their arbitrary practices." The agency quoted Kim in his message saying, "I am fully convinced that friendship and solidarity ... will further develop into a prolonged strategic relationship in line with the requirements of the new era." Putin, in his letter to Kim, pledged to consolidate bilateral relations.
The heads of South Korea, the United States, and Japan are scheduled to discuss security cooperation regarding North Korea, Ukraine, and other issues during a trilateral summit on August 18 at Camp David.
