On Thursday, United Russia, Russia’s ruling party, adopted a joint statement with North Korea’s Workers’ Party, expressing its support for measures to bolster North Korea’s defense capabilities.
North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency reported that Comrade Ri Hi-yong, Secretary of the Party Central Committee representing the Workers’ Party, and Vladimir Yakushev, United Russia’s Secretary of the Council of Ministers, signed the joint declaration.
The full text of the statement, released by the agency, revealed that both parties reaffirmed their commitment to further developing high-level relations between the two parties and nations, building upon the Agreement on Exchanges and Cooperation signed in Moscow on October 25, 2018.
Both sides agreed that the escalating global political and military tensions are primarily due to the West’s aggressive policies, which persist in pursuing a dangerous and destructive course of comprehensive hegemony and unlawful interference in the internal affairs of sovereign nations.
Notably, United Russia expressed firm support for the measures taken by the North Korean leadership to strengthen national defense capabilities, which analysts interpret as an endorsement of Pyongyang’s nuclear armament strategy.
In response, the Workers’ Party pledged full support for Russia’s stance on the Ukraine crisis and its ongoing special military operation. United Russia, in turn, expressed its appreciation to North Korea for deploying substantial combat units to Russia’s Kursk region.
The parties also emphasized their shared commitment to combating forces that undermine peace and stability in Northeast Asia, including the Korean Peninsula. They agreed to oppose the resurgence of fascism and Nazi ideology, as well as the persistent neocolonial actions of Western powers.
Both sides stated their intention to strengthen ties through active dialogue to implement existing agreements. They also plan to organize a series of joint events and increase delegation exchanges.
Earlier that day, Vladimir Yakushev, United Russia’s Secretary General, arrived in Pyongyang with a delegation led by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council. The group is expected to attend the 80th anniversary celebration of the North Korean Workers’ Party’s founding on Friday.