Matvienko said that she delivered a letter from the President of Russia to the North Korean leader.
During the official visit of the Federation Council delegation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Valentina Matvienko met with Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea Kim Jong-un.
Matvienko told journalists that the meeting lasted over an hour and was held in a very warm atmosphere. “Kim Jong-un emphasized that he was interested in the maximum development and expansion of cooperation with Russia in economic, humanitarian, political and other areas,” Matvienko said.
Briefing with Valentina Matvienko after the first day of the official visit of the Federation Council delegation to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea
The Speaker of the Federation Council said that she fulfilled the assignment from President Vladimir Putin and delivered his letter to the North Korean leader. The letter included an invitation for Kim Jong-un to pay an official visit to Russia. “Kim Jong-un confirmed that he is ready and willing to visit Russia. The timing and place of Kim’s visit will be agreed via diplomatic channels,” Matvienko added.
Matvienko said the North Korean leader emphasized the importance of the upcoming meeting with the President of Russia which would give them an opportunity to discuss both the prospects for bilateral cooperation, and a number of important questions on the global agenda.
During their meeting, Valentina Matvienko and Kim Jong-un also discussed the political and diplomatic settlement of the Korean Peninsula issue. “We strongly support a dialogue between the leaders of North and South Korea, and we are confident that the third summit will bring us one step closer to a settlement of Korean Peninsula issues.”
Matvienko also said that her dialogue with the North Korean
leader covered trade and economic cooperation, including cooperation between individual
regions in the two countries. She said that a North Korean
delegation plans to participate in the Eastern Economic Forum which will be
held in Vladivostok on 11−13 September.