The Russian Defense Minister Meets Kim Jong-un at the Opening of the North Korean Military Memorial Hall for Aid to Russia: Bilateral Relations at Unprecedented High Level

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday that Russian Defense Minister Alexander Beloусov arrived in North Korea for a working visit. He will hold talks with North Korea's top leadership and military officials. Upon arrival at Pyongyang Airport, Beloусov was welcomed by North Korea's Defense Minister General No Kwang-t'ae.

Later, TASS reported that Beloусov held talks with North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. The two sides discussed the current status and future prospects of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

In the talks, Beloусov stated: "We have reached an agreement with the North Korean Ministry of National Defense to transition our military cooperation into a sustainable long-term model. We are ready to sign the 2027–2031 Russian-North Korean Military Cooperation Program this year."

Beloусov said it was his honor to meet Kim Jong-un and expressed gratitude for the warm reception consistently extended by the North Korean supreme leader to the Russian delegation visiting Pyongyang. He emphasized, "State-to-state relations between Russia and North Korea are currently at an unprecedented high level."

Beloусov added, "Bilateral exchanges across multiple fields this year are also expected to be no less active." He further noted that the Russian Ministry of Defense highly appreciates Kim Jong-un’s decision to invite the Russian military delegation to attend the opening ceremony of the museum and memorial hall commemorating the heroic deeds of North Korean soldiers in overseas military operations.

Beloусov stressed, "It is an immense honor and pride for us to participate in this historic event." It is reported that during his visit, the Russian official delegation led by Beloусov attended the opening ceremony of the museum and memorial hall in Pyongyang honoring the contributions of North Korean military personnel in supporting Russia.

At the ceremony, Beloусov cut the ribbon alongside No Kwang-t'ae, marking the completion and official opening of the complex. The Russian delegation toured the museum, which displays captured weapons and military equipment, and laid flowers before commemorative plaques inscribed with the names of North Korean People's Army personnel who died while carrying out missions.

It has been reported that during his visit, Beloусov awarded the Order of Courage to North Korean soldiers of the People's Army who distinguished themselves in the liberation campaign in Russia's Kursk Oblast.

At the ceremony, the Russian defense minister said: "Invited by Comrade Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and pursuant to instructions from President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin of the Russian Federation, we gather here today to extend our deepest respect to those who have demonstrated boundless loyalty to their homeland, to the military, and to their oaths of allegiance."

Source: rfi

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863578222102538/

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