Pyongyang: North Korea's Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui has praised the mutual defense treaty with Russia as an "invincible alliance." This comes as Pyongyang and Moscow celebrated the first anniversary of their leaders' signing of the treaty, as reported by the North's state media.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Choe made these remarks during a reception in Pyongyang attended by North's Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, key secretaries of the ruling party's Central Committee, and Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora. During her speech, Choe stated that the treaty has elevated the North Korea-Russia relationship to a "most solid, invincible alliance."

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) quoted Choe as saying that North Korea's stance on advancing the North Korea-Russia relationship through close cooperation in various fields remains steadfast, aiming for the well-being of both peoples and a promising future.

In a separate address, Ambassador Matsegora highlighted the strength of the bilateral relationship, emphasizing its reinforcement during wartime, where the service of North Korean troops in the Kursk region played a significant role. He expressed confidence in the continued advancement of the relationship between Russia and North Korea.

The first anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty, signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 19, 2024, was marked on Thursday. This treaty led to North Korea deploying troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine in return for economic benefits and military technology, significantly increasing bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields.