North Korea’s Kim pushes for ‘forward-looking’ relations with Russia

By Riyaz ul Khaliq

ISTANBUL (AA) - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called for building “forward-looking” relations with Russia.

Kim made the remarks during his meeting with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Pyongyang on Thursday, according to North Korean state-run KCNA.

Kim expressed the “steadfast stand” of the Workers Party of Korea and the government “to work out a stable, forward-looking, far-reaching plan for” bilateral relations with Russia “in the new era.”

This, Kim said, would be achieved by “faithfully implementing” the agreements made at the North Korea-Russia summit, promoting the well-being of the peoples of the two countries, and pushing forward with the cause of building a powerful state by dint of the said plan.

Lavrov paid a two-day trip to Pyongyang from Wednesday.

Kim made a week-long official trip to Russia last month where he held summit-level talks with President Vladimir Putin.

During Thursday’s meeting, Kim and Lavrov also discussed “important matters of mutual concern” to actively cope with the complicated regional and international situation.

The report said the two sides “reached a consensus” to expand bilateral ties in all fields.