Kim Jong-un and Putin frequently exchange letters after signing North Korea-Russia treaty
On October 28, 2024, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hee (center) and her entourage shake hands with Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora before their official visit to Russia. Korean Central News Agency/Yonhap News
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin expressing condolences on the death of the Russian ambassador to North Korea, North Korean media reported on the 9th.
The Korean Central News Agency and Rodong Sinmun reported that Chairman Kim sent President Putin a condolence note on the 8th to console him over the death of Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexander Matsegora. The day before, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Ambassador Matsegora died at the age of 70 on the 6th. The cause of death was not disclosed. Appointed as Russian Ambassador to North Korea in December 2014, he has served as a link between the two countries.
In the letter, Chairman Kim said, “I express my deepest condolences and condolences to Comrade Putin, the leadership of the Russian Federation, and the bereaved families.” Chairman Kim said, “Comrade Matsegora was a close friend and comrade of the Korean people who devoted his life to the development of friendly relations between North Korea and Russia over the past 30 years,” and added, “His noble life dedicated to the militant friendship between the peoples of North Korea and Russia and the performance of common causes will shine for a long time.”
The exchange of letters between Chairman Kim and President Putin has become more frequent since the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty (North Korea-Russia Treaty) in June last year. Last year and this year, letters were exchanged on North Korea’s Fatherland Liberation Day (Liberation Day) in August, the establishment of the North Korean regime in September, and President Putin’s birthday in October. Since the signing of the North Korea-Russia treaty, cooperation in military, economic, and social fields has been expanding between the two countries.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui also sent a letter to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying, “The loss of Comrade Matsegora is a great loss for the people of both North Korea and Russia.”
An official from the Ministry of Unification met with reporters at the Seoul Government Complex on this day and said, “I don’t think there will be any impact in the larger scheme of things,” regarding the impact of the appointment of a successor following Ambassador Matsegora’s death on North Korea-Russia relations. The official said Ambassador Matsegora is presumed to have died in Russia.
