North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to reports from the Workers’ Party of Korea’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, on Wednesday.
The front page of Rodong Sinmun detailed that the two leaders exchanged warm greetings and engaged in discussions within a friendly and comradely atmosphere.
The newspaper reported that both leaders highly valued the deepening cooperation across all fields under their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty. They also reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening future collaboration. Notably, President Putin once again commended the support provided by North Korea and praised the bravery, heroism, and spirit of sacrifice demonstrated by the Korean People’s Army.
On the second page, the paper characterized the upcoming August 15 Liberation Day as a victory of the nationwide struggle for independence. It emphasized that this achievement was the result of the great leader’s unwavering faith in the power of the people and his tireless efforts to organize and mobilize that power.
The third page featured news about students from Mangyongdae and Chilgol Revolutionary Schools visiting the Wonsan Kalma Coastal Tourist Area on August 9. The paper vividly described the scene as sounds of excitement echoed endlessly in the outdoor water park at Myeongsasimni Beach as children enjoyed various colorful water attractions.
The fourth page stressed the importance of self-reliance and domestic production. It warned against over-reliance on imports, stating that the primary concern in the pursuit of self-reliance and domestic production should be dependency on imports. The paper added that merely looking to others and relying entirely on them is tantamount to voluntarily becoming a modern-day slave.
Weather reports dominated the fifth page, highlighting severe thunderstorms and heavy rainfall across the nation. The State Hydrometeorological Bureau, North Korea’s equivalent to the U.S. National Weather Service, issued heavy rain advisories for regions including Gaeseong City and parts of South Hwanghae, North Hwanghae, and Gangwon provinces.
The sixth page featured a statement from a foreign ministry spokesperson condemning Israel’s announced plans to occupy the Gaza Strip. The spokesperson characterized Israel’s actions as acts of territorial theft and strongly denounced them.