At the meeting the president said that the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries have a long historical tradition and that India is attaching importance to developing the relations with the DPRK.

I am pleased that the friendly and cooperative ties between the two countries have recently developed on good terms, he noted.

He expressed belief that these relations would grow stronger in various fields in the future.

He stressed that India is paying deep attention to the development of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and has maintained its consistent stand that the tension in the region and the issue of Korean reunification should be settled through dialogue and negotiations.

He hoped the government and people of the DPRK would register greater successes in their efforts to develop the country's economy and improve the people's living standard.