N. Korea says treaty with Russia guarantees peace, security in Eurasia
North Korea on Thursday touted its mutual defense treaty with Russia as a "guarantee" safeguarding peace and security in Eurasia, marking the sixth anniversary of leader Kim Jong-un's first summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Rodong Simun, a mainstream newspaper published by North Korea's Workers' Party, carried the message, a day before the country marks the sixth anniversary of Kim's first summit with Putin in the Russian border city of Vladivostok on April 25, 2019.
The two countries have aligned closely since Kim and Putin signed a mutual defense treaty in Pyongyang in June last year, which led to North Korea's deployment of troops to support Russia's war against Ukraine.
"The North Korea-Russia friendship, which has been further strengthened through the trials of complex history, has entered into a new heyday today under the special attention" of leader Kim Jong-un, the newspaper claimed.
It described the first Kim-Putin summit as a "watershed" that elevated and enriched the friendship between the two neighbors.
The newspaper also touted it as a "groundbreaking" event that updated bilateral relations to meet the "demand of the time" and a "solid cornerstone" in the development of their friendship.
North Korea also referred to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim and Putin last year, claiming it created "a reliance guarantee" to safeguard peace and security in the Eurasian continent.
North Korea and Russia are strengthening their ties and cooperation by jointly reinforcing self-defense against reckless plots by "hostile forces," the Rodong Sinmun said, adding they will build "a new world" together on the basis of the new treaty. (Yonhap)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
a day ago
- Korea Herald
Kim Byung-kee, Lee's ally, elected floor leader of Democratic Party
Rep. Kim Byung-kee, a three-term lawmaker widely regarded as President Lee Jae-myung's ally, was elected Friday as the new floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The party said Kim won a majority of votes in an internal election, defeating Rep. Seo Young-kyo, a four-term lawmaker. 'I believe party members and fellow lawmakers elected me with the hope that I would become a bridgehead for the success of the Lee Jae-myung administration,' Kim said in his acceptance speech at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul. 'I will carry forward the will of the people, complete the reforms, and lay the groundwork for restoring livelihoods, boosting economic growth and achieving national unity.' Kim has pledged to root out so-called 'insurrectionist forces' linked to former President Yoon Suk Yeol's botched martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year. He has also vowed to push ahead with swift reforms of the prosecution, judiciary and media. The 63-year-old entered politics in 2016 when he won a seat in Seoul's Dongjak constituency, where he went on to serve three consecutive terms. Before his political career, he spent 26 years at the National Intelligence Service. Kim is widely recognized as a key pro-Lee Jae-myung figure within the party. He led the campaign team for then-candidate Lee during the 2022 presidential election and served as the party's senior deputy secretary-general from 2022 to 2024, during Lee's tenure as party chair. Kim gained national attention in 2023 for strongly defending Lee when the National Assembly voted on a motion to arrest him. At the time, he sharply criticized party members who supported the motion, saying, 'History will remember today as the day Democratic Party lawmakers became dogs.' In the lead-up to the 2024 general election, Kim served as secretary of the party's nomination committee, reportedly playing a key role in reorganizing the party's structure under pro-Lee leadership.
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
N. Korea's damaged warship launched 22 days after failed first attempt
North Korea said Friday it has launched a 5,000-ton destroyer that was damaged during its first launch attempt in May, with leader Kim Jong-un attending the launching ceremony and unveiling a plan to build two more such destroyers next year. The launch ceremony was held at the Rajin shipyard the previous day, overseen by Kim, the Korean Central News Agency said, announcing the destroyer is named the Kang Kon. In late May, the 5,000-ton destroyer tipped over and became partially submerged during the launch ceremony in the northeastern port city of Chongjin. Kim had ordered the full restoration of the warship before a key party meeting set for late June. Kim met with scientists, technicians and workers who contributed to the destroyer's construction and restoration, the KCNA said. The KCNA also said Kim has approved a plan to build two more 5,000-ton destroyers next year. (Yonhap)
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Battle-tested duo leads Seoul into high-stakes tariff talks with Washington
"Korea is back," says new Trade Minister Yeo Han-koo, pledging swift action on US tariff talks With the July deadline for the US tariff reprieve approaching, South Korea is ramping up preparations for make-or-break tariff negotiations, placing two seasoned negotiators at the forefront in a bid to deliver a breakthrough. Described by many observers as one of the most qualified experts, Yeo Han-koo, who most recently served as a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, took office as the new trade minister on Thursday. This marks his second time serving as Korea's top trade envoy, following his previous tenure during the Moon Jae-in administration from 2021 to 2022. In 30 years of public service, Yeo has sat at the bargaining table for numerous trade deals, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the Korea-EU FTA, and others. Backing Yeo is Kim Hyun-chong, deputy national security adviser under the Moon administration and a two-time trade minister. He is widely expected to be named special adviser to the president for foreign affairs and national security. In this advisory role, Kim is expected to leverage his extensive trade expertise while providing the president with broader strategic insights. During President Lee Jae-myung's campaign, Kim served as an adviser on foreign affairs and national security. In May, he visited Washington to meet with Trump officials to discuss tariff and trade-related issues. Known for a candid and straightforward style, Kim played a pivotal role in negotiating South Korea's free trade agreements with over 40 countries during the Roh Moo-hyun administration. He served again as a chief trade negotiator under Moon, further cementing his reputation as a skilled diplomatic negotiator. The two men previously worked closely together during the renegotiation of the Korea-US FTA and steel tariffs during the first Trump administration, with Kim as trade minister and Yeo as commercial attache at the Korean Embassy in Washington. At that time, Korea was able to secure a duty-free import quota for steel products, receiving exemptions from US steel tariffs. Given the duo's track record and deep ties in Washington, expectations are high that Seoul could bolster its negotiating power and break the deadlock in tariff talks, which have been moving slowly due to a leadership vacuum in Korea. There's not much time before the July 8 deadline. The Trump administration imposed 25 percent 'reciprocal' tariffs on all imports from South Korea in April. Unless a new trade deal is reached, tariffs will jump from the current 10 percent to 25 percent when the 90-day grace period expires, which will deal a blow to the export-dependent South Korean economy. In light of this urgency, Yeo, at his inauguration ceremony held at the government complex in Sejong on Thursday, said he will 'expedite the 'shuttle negotiations' with the US at the trade minister level," noting that the new government in Seoul has secured democratic legitimacy and a clear mandate. He added that the ministry will establish an all-out response system for trade negotiations with the US, expanding and restructuring the existing task force to encompass trade, industry and energy issues. The rank of Korea's working-level representative will also be elevated from the current director level to the deputy minister level. Through this effort, the government will 'establish a new structural framework for mutually beneficial Korea-US cooperation in industry, trade and investment over the next five years,' Yeo said. 'I will do my best to achieve a nation-oriented, pragmatic outcome in trade talks,' he added. "Korea is back," said Yeo, striking a confident tone. "As much as South Korea needs the US, the US also needs Korea. We will negotiate confidently to build a mutually beneficial partnership." Negotiations are expected to intensify in the coming weeks, with a third round of technical talks expected this month. These talks are set to address issues including trade imbalances and non-tariff barriers. Seoul has been pushing for reduced tariff rates or exemptions through a comprehensive deal covering both tariffs and broader economic cooperation. Compounding the tariff issue, non-tariff barriers have emerged as a key sticking point in the bilateral talks. The US Trade Representative has particularly flagged Korea's restrictions on imports of US beef from cattle over 30 months old and regulations on the overseas transfer of high-precision mapping data. In preparing for the negotiations, the industry ministry has commissioned a state-run think tank to conduct economic impact studies analyzing the effects of the tariffs and anticipated US demands.
