Statements at Official dinner in honor of the Chairman of State Affairs of the DPRK Kim Jong-un

As you can see, the talks were held in rather austere conditions compared to the Kremlin’s opulence.

Earlier today on the other side of the planet after visiting several major Russian technology centers, one of which was the Vostochny cosmodrome, a traditional State Dinner was held where the Leaders of Russia and the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea exchanged further greetings and commentary. The talks held prior to the dinner are hidden from public view, although the usual greetings were published. What follows is the exchange between Putin and Comrade Kim Jong-un at the state dinner where I’ve emphasized Comrade Kim’s interesting framing of the situation:

Vladimir Putin: Dear Comrade Chairman, Dear friends!

Let me once again extend my warmest greetings to our dear guests, Comrade Kim Jong-un, and all our Korean colleagues.

I remember very well when, during our talks in Vladivostok in 2019, we exchanged views on the development of our relations and on the international agenda at that time. Your current visit is also taking place in a truly comradely, friendly and friendly atmosphere. An extensive agenda and program that includes visits not only to the Vostochny cosmodrome, but also to other large high-tech clusters, industrial enterprises and innovation centers in the Russian Far East.

This year, Russia and the DPRK celebrate a significant anniversary – 75 years of diplomatic relations. The Soviet Union was the first to recognize the young Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Our relationship dates back to the Korean struggle for freedom in 1945, when Soviet and Korean soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder against Japanese militarists.

Even today, we strive to strengthen the bonds of camaraderie and good neighborliness, and act for peace, stability and prosperity in our common region.

You, Comrade Kim Jong-un, firmly and confidently follow the course laid down by outstanding statesmen: the founder of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Kim Il Sung, and the successor of his work, Comrade Kim Jong-il. They were sincere and true friends, consistent supporters of building the closest relations and ties between our countries.

There is a Korean proverb: new clothes are good, but a friend is old. And we have people saying: an old friend is better than two new ones. These popular wisdoms fully apply to modern relations between our countries.

I would like to propose a toast to the further strengthening of friendship and cooperation between our countries, between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, to the well-being and prosperity of our peoples, to the health of Comrade Chairman and all those present.

(as translated) Kim Jong-un is very happy that in four years and five months I have been able to visit the Russian Federation, hold a meeting with President Putin, and now [we] gather in this significant place filled with a sense of sincere comradeship.

First of all, allow me to express my sincere gratitude to you, Comrade Putin, for having kindly invited us, despite being busy and managing all the affairs of the state, and wholeheartedly extending your warm hospitality to us. I would also like to express my gratitude to the people from the [federal] center and from the Far Eastern regions who made great efforts to ensure the success of our visit to Russia.

I take this opportunity to convey the Korean people's military honor and warm fraternal greetings to all the Russian people, who have risen up to carry out the historic task of building a strong Russia and reliably protecting the strategic interests of the state.

Comrades, our current visit comes at a time when the battle between progress and reaction, justice and injustice is fiercely unfolding in the international arena, and the process of multipolarity in the world is moving forward vigorously thanks to the common will and cohesive power of independent forces.

Comrade Putin and I have just discussed in depth the military and political situation on the Korean peninsula and in Europe, and we have reached a satisfactory consensus on further strengthening strategic and tactical cooperation, support and solidarity in the fight to protect the sovereign right of security, and to create guarantees of lasting peace both in the region and around the world. We are confident that the Russian army and people will certainly win a great victory in the sacred struggle to punish the evil group that claims hegemony and feeds the expansionist illusion, and to create a stable environment for development.

Expanding and developing Russian-Korean relations of friendship and cooperation is not only fully in the interests of the peoples of the two countries, but also a requirement of modernity that strives for independence. I will work with the President [of the Russian Federation] to build stable, forward-looking Russian-Korean relations for a long time to come, and on their basis I will vigorously encourage the building of a strong state in both countries and implement true international justice.

From the first moment of my arrival on Russian soil, I felt the fighting spirit and vibrant reality and witnessed firsthand the significant achievements of the Russian people in building a strong modern Russia under the correct leadership of Comrade Putin.

I am deeply convinced that the heroic Russian army and people, brilliantly inheriting the traditions of victory, will confidently demonstrate the priceless dignity of honor on two fronts-a special military operation and building a strong state.

In conclusion, I am confident that our current visit will serve as an important moment in the further development and transformation of traditional Korean-Russian friendly relations into unbreakable relations of strategic cooperation.

I propose to raise a glass to the good health of the distinguished President of the Russian Federation, Comrade Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin! To the new victories of great Russia, to the continuous development and strengthening of the Korean-Russian friendship, and to the health of all the comrades present here!

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