Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said he sees a brighter future for DPRK-Russia ties in a reply to Russian President Vladimir Putin, state media Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.
Kim, president of the State Affairs of the DPRK, sent the reply on Saturday after receiving Putin's message on Friday, which marked the 81st anniversary of the Korean Peninsula's liberation from Japanese colonial rule at the end of World War II in 1945.
In his message, Putin said the DPRK and Russia were actively cooperating across all sectors and working together to safeguard regional security and stability, according to the KCNA.
Kim also expressed confidence in the reply that Russia's armed forces and people, under Putin's leadership, would succeed in defending the country's sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity, and in building a strong Russia. He wished Putin further success in his work.
The Liberation Day, observed on Aug 15, commemorates the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule.
Separately, the KCNA reported that Kim visited the Revolutionary Martyrs Cemetery on Mount Taesong in Pyongyang on Friday to pay tribute to anti-Japanese revolutionary fighters.
A wreath in Kim's name was laid at the cemetery as a ceremonial wreath-laying song was played, the KCNA said. Kim said the fighters' firm convictions and unyielding spirit continued to inspire the DPRK people’s efforts to build the DPRK into a prosperous country.
Kim sees brighter future for DPRK-Russia ties in reply to Putin
Qatar on Saturday denied claims that it had detained Iranian pilots, describing the assertion as misleading amid ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating regional tensions.
"We categorically deny the claims circulating regarding the detention of Iranian pilots and are surprised by these misleading statements at this particular time," Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed Al Ansari said in a post on social media platform X.
Al Ansari said contact had been established with the pilots concerned after they violated Qatari airspace and authorities confirmed the trajectory of the targeting.
"After following the rules of engagement and attempting to communicate with them without receiving a response, the necessary measures were taken to defend our territory in accordance with international law," he said, adding that the circumstances had been clarified at the time through official channels.
The spokesman said Qatari search and rescue teams subsequently conducted operations to search for the remains of the pilots. He added that Qatar had communicated with Iran to coordinate the handover of the remains of one pilot who was found.
An Iranian military commander said Saturday that Qatari forces captured three Iranian pilots whose fighter jets were shot down when returning from a military mission against a U.S. base in Qatar in March. The commander said a fourth pilot was killed.
On Feb 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing the country's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, military commanders and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone attacks targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets in the region.
The body of the slain Iranian pilot, Majid Kazemi, was returned to Iran and buried in the southern city of Shiraz in late July.
Qatar denies claims of detaining Iranian pilots
