Overview

• United Russia, led by Dmitry Medvedev, visited Pyongyang for the Workers’ Party of Korea’s 80th anniversary at the invitation of the WPK Central Committee.
• The joint statement thanks North Korea’s leadership for sending a military contingent to Russia’s Kursk region.
• The parties state that Russians will not forget the courage and heroism shown by Korean People’s Army soldiers and officers during fighting in the area.
• WPK secretary Cho Yong Won says cooperation is expanding across politics, the economy, culture, and military affairs.
• Cho underscores the central role of ruling parties in advancing ties and calls the Medvedev-led visit a milestone that opens a new phase in inter-party relations.