Pyongyang: Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to a North Korean military commander following the participation of North Korean troops in Russia's Victory Day military parade, as reported by North Korea's state media on Sunday. This event is the latest indicator of the increasing closeness in relations between North Korea and Russia.
According to Yonhap News Agency, North Korean soldiers took part in the parade held in Moscow's Red Square on Saturday, which commemorated the 81st anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War II, as stated by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Meanwhile, North Korea is urging its citizens to intensify efforts towards the grain harvest for this year, amid ongoing food shortages.
In an editorial published by the Rodong Simnun, the main newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, the North Korean populace was encouraged to "concentrate all efforts on rice transplanting and completing it in a timely manner" to achieve the annual grain targets. There is also rising concern about the hantavirus outbreak, which has resulted in three deaths on a foreign cruise ship, reflecting North Korea's response patterns similar to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Rodong Simnum also reported on Monday about the outbreak of the Andes strain of the virus on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean, which is causing international alarm. In light of these developments, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has emphasized the importance of enhancing the country's mortar and howitzer forces during his review of key munitions factories.
Kim conducted inspections at various munitions industrial enterprises on Monday to assess the progress of the nation's munitions production plan for the first half of the year, according to KCNA. Additionally, North Korea's General Federation of Trade Unions held its first congress in five years to elect new leadership and reinforce efforts to execute the country's five-year economic development plan, reported on Wednesday.
The congress, affiliated with the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, convened from Monday to Tuesday, as mentioned by KCNA. In diplomatic news, Vietnam's top diplomat arrived in North Korea as a special envoy for the country's leader To Lam, with discussions to enhance bilateral cooperation.
Vietnamese Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung and his delegation reached North Korea on Tuesday, and subsequently held talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui. The meeting in Pyongyang focused on a wide range of international and regional issues, according to KCNA.
In a related development, Kim Jong-un has urged workers to serve as the "vanguard" of socialist construction, emphasizing their crucial role in achieving state development goals. He met with workers from the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea for a photo session and delivered a speech, as reported by KCNA.
Finally, a celebratory event was held in North Korea to mark the recent key party congress of both North Korea and Vietnam. A photography exhibition hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy took place at the Taedonggang Diplomatic Club, showcasing the friendship and cooperation between the leaders of the two countries, as reported by KCNA.