Russia and the DPRK have cooperated with each other for years as neighbors, he said, and went on:

The friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have developed at a new high level as former Russian President Putin visited Pyongyang and General Secretary Kim Jong Il paid visits to Russia.

The talks held between the top leaders of the two countries and the joint documents signed there made a great contribution to the development of the relations between the Russian and Korean peoples.

The exchange and cooperation between the two countries are now under way in various fields.

I am convinced that the Russia-DPRK friendly and cooperative relations will grow stronger in line with the desire of the peoples of the two countries and the spirit of the joint documents agreed upon between the two sides.

It is my hope that the friendly Korean people will achieve greater successes in the drive for building a rich and powerful country under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.