Choe met Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, at Kremlin, Moscow on Nov. 18.

Choe courteously conveyed greetings and a personal letter of Kim Jong Un to Putin.

Choe and Putin reaffirmed the will of both sides to boost reciprocal cooperation and further deepen exchanges and contacts in political, economic, military and all other fields in the significant year 2015.

Choe held talks with Sergei Lavrov, Russian foreign minister, in Moscow on Nov. 20.

At the talks, they had an in-depth discussion on the matters arising in developing the DPRK-Russia friendly relations onto a higher stage such as the issues of promoting bilateral cooperation in economic, trade and humanitarian fields and boosting cooperation in the international arena.

Both sides reached a consensus of views on organizing grand joint celebrations and reenergizing visits and cooperation between the two countries, including exchange of delegations, next year marking the 70th anniversary of Korea's liberation and the 70th anniversary of Russia's victory in the Great Patriotic War.

They reaffirmed the joint understanding that all sorts of joint military drills and arms buildup should be halted and the danger of a nuclear war be defused on the Korean Peninsula and in its vicinity and the issue of the peninsula be settled in a peaceful manner.

Also discussed at the talks were the issues of making sustained efforts to resume the six-party talks without any precondition and creating atmosphere and environment favorable for the resumption of the talks.

During the visit No Kwang Chol, vice-chief of the General Staff of the Korean People's Army, met with Andrei Kartapolov, deputy chief of the General Staff and director of its General Operation Bureau of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, and Ri Kwang Gun, vice-minister of External Economic Relations, with Alexandr Galushka, minister of Development of Far East of Russia.

Both sides had a wide-ranging exchange of views on substantial issues arising in further revitalizing exchange and cooperation in military, economic and trade fields.

During their stay in Moscow the special envoy and his party visited the Lenin Mausoleum, the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War, the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by the side of the Kremlin Castle Wall, the Kremlin, etc.

They toured Khabarovsk and Maritime Territories of the Russian Federation from Nov. 21.

The special envoy's party separately met with Byacheslav Shport, governor of the Khabarovsk Territory Administration, and Vladimir Mikulushevski, governor of the Maritime Territory Administration, and discussed issues of boosting the regional cooperation and exchange in the fields of industry, agriculture, forestry, transport service, sports and culture.

The special envoy's party visited St. Bishop Innokenty of Irkutsk Church, Russian Orthodox Church, and the Folk Museum in Khabarovsk, the Ignat Trade Center and the Vlad Bread Factory in Vladivostok visited by leader Kim Jong Il during his trip to the Russian Federation. They also visited the Command of Army No. 5 in the Eastern Military District of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Military History Museum of the Pacific Sea Fleet and various other places.