Pyongyang, August 27 (KCNA) -- On March 17, Juche 38 (1949) the DPRK and Russia (the then Soviet Union) concluded an agreement on economic and cultural cooperation.

It was the first bilateral agreement President Kim Il Sung signed during his visit to Russia.

After the conclusion of the agreement, the friendly and cooperative relations between the DPRK and Russia entered a new stage of development.

The two countries have developed the economic and cultural cooperation and exchange in line with the agreement to meet the desire and demand of their people.

In particular, the 21st century witnessed a meeting between General Secretary Kim Jong Il and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, the then president of Russia, the adoption of the DPRK-Russia Joint Declaration and the DPRK-Russia Moscow Declaration, and the conclusion of the treaty of friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation. The landmark events propelled the development of the bilateral relations.

The DPRK and Russia have steadily improved the relations through cooperation and exchange in various fields in the spirit of the declarations and the treaty.

The reconstruction projects of the Rajin-Khasan railway and Rajin Port were launched in October 2008, with the approach of the diamond anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the DPRK and Russia. They served as a sign of large-scale cooperation entering a practical stage in conformity with the interests common to the two countries' people.

Famous Russian art troupes have come to the DPRK every year to give performances, delighting the Korean people and boosting friendship.

Pyongyang and Moscow are cooperating with each other for a fair solution to major international issues, including peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

Kim Jong Il's recent unofficial visit to the Siberian and Far East regions of the Russian Federation marked another important occasion in putting the bilateral friendship on a higher level.