Pyongyang, August 15 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a message of greeting to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on Aug. 15.

In the message, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un extended warm greetings on behalf of the DPRK government and people to President Putin and the government and people of the Russian Federation on the occasion of the 78th anniversary of Korea's liberation.

The Red Army officers and men, precious sons and daughters of the Russian people, defeated fascism that threatened the destiny of mankind with their noble sense of mission for the internationalist cause and then courageously turned out in the sacred war against Japanese militarism to win another brilliant victory, thus making a great contribution to the world people's cause of national liberation, the message said, adding:

Fields and mountains of Korea are dyed with blood shed by the known and unknown Red Army fighters in the fierce battles for Korea's liberation together with the members of the Korean People's Revolutionary Army, and their heroic self-sacrificing spirit will be long conveyed to posterity along with the history of the DPRK-Russia friendship.

The militant friendship and solidarity established between the armies and peoples of the two countries in the grim days of struggle against the common enemy have become a proud tradition of the DPRK-Russia relations and are now fully demonstrating their invincibility and might in the struggle to smash the imperialists' arbitrary practices and hegemony.

I am firmly convinced that the friendship and solidarity between the DPRK and Russia, provided by the preceding leaders and consolidated in the test of history, will be further developed into a long-standing strategic relationship in conformity with the demand of the new era and that the two countries will always emerge victorious, strongly supporting and cooperating with each other in the course of achieving their common goal and cause.

The message wished President Putin good health and success in his responsible work, extending militant salute to the Russian government, army and people who have turned out in the historic grand project to defend the sovereignty, security and peace of the country and build powerful Russia. -0-