President Putin Praises Russia-North Korea's New Strategic Partnership Agreement

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin led the delegation of each country at a meeting in Pyongyang. (Source: Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/Gavriil Grigorov/TASS)

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin praised the signing of a new comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea, as he visited Pyongyang on Wednesday.

Holding a meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un at Kumsusan Palace, President Putin said the agreement was a 'breakthrough' document that would allow the two countries to increase interactions to new levels.

"Today, a new fundamental document has been prepared that will form the basis for our relationship for a long-term perspective," President Putin said, launching TASS June 19.

"I agree that this is a document that is truly a breakthrough that reflects the desire of the two countries not to be complacent, but to bring our relationship to a new qualitative level," President Putin said.

President Putin said the agreement "established large-scale tasks and benchmarks to deepen Russia-North Korea's ties in the long term."

"This concerns politics, trade and investment, culture, humanity, and security," he said.

The new agreement was signed directly by the two leaders of the country and then exchanged documents, witnessed by the delegations of each country.

As the Russian President Yury Ushakov explained, this new document replaces the 1961 friendly and mutual aid agreement, the 2000 agreement on bilateral relations, as well as the 2000 and 2001 Moscow and Pyongyang declarations.

According to Ushakov, this new document is needed because of major changes in geopolitical situations in the region and around the world as well as bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea.

The Kremlin official said the new document would comply with all basic principles of international law, would not be controversial or aimed at any country and aimed at ensuring greater stability in Northeast Asia.

Talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in an expanded format lasted for an hour and a half, followed by a one-on-one conversation.