North Korea celebrated the anniversary of its relations with Russia and declared its intent to continue enhancing relations between the two.

North Korea’s state-run Rodong Sinmun newspaper reported on Sunday that Moscow-Pyongyang ties have recently become stronger in many sectors, and the two countries will maintain their firm and close relationship through joint efforts. The paper also stated that two countries have cooperated for 66 years by respecting each other even though there have been many obstacles.

The two countries established diplomatic relations on October 12, 1948, a month after the DRPK was officially founded.

“The DPRK is the closest