Russia-N. Korea ties contribute to regional security: Mironov

By Tony Chang
SEOUL, Nov. 25 (Yonhap) -- Sergei Mironov, Russia's parliamentary speaker
visiting Pyongyang, said Wednesday that the close ties between his country and
North Korea would contribute to peace and stability in Northeast Asia, the
North's media said.
In a speech given to the Supreme People's Assembly at the Mansudae Assembly Hall
in Pyongyang, the chairman of the Federation Council of Russia said that "close
cooperation between the two peoples would greatly contribute to ensuring peace
and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the rest of Northeast Asia," a report
from the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), monitored in Seoul, said.
The Russian parliamentary speaker arrived in Pyongyang on Tuesday at the
invitation of North Korea and met with his counterpart Choe Thae-bok that day for
talks on issues of bilateral interest.
Mironov added in his speech that cooperation between the parliaments of the two
countries is "conducive" to the development of the Russia-North Korea relations,
and further called for "joint activities in the interests of the two countries'
peoples."
Choe said at a reception that Mironov's visit would contribute to expanding the
overall relations between North Korea and Russia, the report said.
In August, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev
exchanged letters of greeting, which called for enhancement of bilateral ties,
despite Russia joining a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning North
Korea's second atomic test on May 25.
The exchange of letters between the North Korean and Russian leaders suggested
that the countries continue to value their longstanding relationship forged
during the Cold War era.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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