JAKARTA - North Korea on Sunday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had expressed his willingness to visit Pyongyang as soon as possible and the country was ready to "apappropriate the closest friends of the Korean people sincerely."
North Korea's assistant secretary of state made the announcement in a statement released by the North Korea Central News Agency (KCNA), two days after North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui returned from a trip to Moscow.
"President Putin once again expressed his deepest gratitude for the invitation from the President of Foreign Affairs Kim Jong Un to visit Pyongyang at the right time and expressed his willingness to visit the DPRK as soon as possible," said KCNA, quoted by Antara.
The DPRK stands for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, North Korea's official name.
Choe's visit to Russia coincided with efforts by the two countries to strengthen military cooperation.
North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia for use in the fight against Ukraine, in exchange for Russia's technical assistance to Pyongyang's weapons program.
During his visit to Moscow, Choe met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and made an honorary visit to Putin.
Choe's assistant office said that Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong-un for delivering an invitation to visit Pyongyang.
The Russian leader "expressed his willingness to visit the DPRK as soon as possible," Choe's office said.
"The DPRK government warmly welcomes President Putin's visit to Pyongyang and is ready to welcome the closest friend of the Korean people with great sincerity," the statement read.
On Friday (19/1), a spokesman for Kremlin--Russian president's office--Dmitry Peskov said Putin's visit to North Korea was being discussed between the two sides "via diplomatic means."
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Putin last visited North Korea in July 2000.
North Korea's assistant minister of foreign affairs said Pyongyang and Moscow "reached a consensus on views" on regional and international issues on the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia.
"Both parties recognize that friendly relations and cooperation between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation, sovereign and independent countries, serve as strong strategic bulwarks," the statement said.
The relationship and cooperation, according to a statement, also serves as a driving force in maintaining international peace and security and encouraging the development of a polarized world.
The statement also stated that Russia was grateful to North Korea "for providing full support and solidarity with the establishment of the Russian government and its people in special military operations in Ukraine."
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