Rodong Sinmun says that the conclusion of the agreement between the DPRK and the Soviet Union on March 17, 1949 was the first of its kind concluded between the DPRK and Russia to provide a legal base for developing the mutually beneficial cooperation and exchange.

Since the historic day the two countries have steadily developed the cooperation and exchange in various fields including the economy and culture and deepened the bonds of friendship for the last 68 years, the daily notes, and goes on:

In the 21st century several meetings were held between leader Kim Jong Il and President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and historic joint documents were adopted in that course. As a result, a new prospect was opened for carrying forward the long-standing tradition for cooperation and further developing it.

Visits and contacts have been brisk at various levels and views on the issue of the bilateral relations and on international issues have been widely exchanged.

The DPRK and Russia are the neighbors sharing the same border and their friendly relations are long-standing and traditional. To value and develop the bilateral friendly ties in the desire of the two peoples and the spirit of joint documents agreed upon between both sides is beneficial for ensuring development and stability of the two countries and peace and security in Northeast Asia.

Minju Joson also stresses that only when the DPRK and Russia value the tradition of the friendly relations, support and steadily cooperate with each other and consolidate the friendly relations, will they achieve great successes in their struggle for building powerful countries and in the work for ensuring peace and stability in the region and the rest of the world.