Today's international news headlines end with a rather surprising development. Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, has invited Pope Francis to visit Pyongyang. It's a bit odd to say, but if you think about it, you can see that the North Korean leader has launched a diplomatic PR campaign which is both well-designed and hypocritical. It deprives the Americans of the feeling that it's only them who have an exclusive access to those in charge in Pyongyang. Needless to say, Moscow has such access, too. This only makes our visit to the place, where only a few MoD employees have been, more interesting.
We're prepared this report for those of our viewers who are political experts and enthusiasts.
It will be featured in our full report on the Russia 24 channel. Here's the embassy of North Korea on Mosfilmovskaya Street, Moscow. Have there been many people inside? Well, here's our chance. It's worth noting that Russian servicemen took off their caps when entering, while members of the North Korean military attache kept their caps on. Why? We'll answer this question soon. Laymen look at the pins which the North Koreans are wearing. They have their own hierarchy. Some of them have the leader's grandfather and father pictured on their pins, while others have only his father on theirs.
But let's look what North Korea treated its guests with. There are sausages, rolls, and butter in briquettes on the tables. It's odd that there's no kimchi or other North Korean dishes. But there is an exhibition of photographs from North Korea.
"This is North Korea, and this is South Korea. It's interesting how they differ from each other. That handshake…"
We can also see activists from the Korean Friendship Association. And here's the main guest. The Ambassador is welcoming Igor Morgulov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. He is responsible for relations with North Korea. The anthems are played. The North Korean anthem is first. That's why the North Koreans kept their caps on: to salute their anthem. By the way, they saluted the Russian anthem, too.
What was the occasion for the reception at the North Korean embassy? The answer was in the Ambassador's speech. They celebrated the 70th anniversary of the relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. They recalled the past and the present. This can be understood without any translation. The Russian deputy minister started by mentioning historical events: the victory of Korean patriots over Japanese occupying forces.
Igor Morgulov, Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs: "Soviet soldiers played a crucial role. In August 1945, they liberated the Korean Peninsula from Japanese occupying forces".
This hint is addressed not only to the Japanese. According to the agreement with the US, the Soviet troops were to be deployed at the 38th parallel. But they reached the outskirts of Seoul. So, in 1945, after Japan capitulated in the peninsula, the Americans landed there and just walked to the 38th parallel. It's our country that really helped to liberate North Korea.
Then Morgulov spoke about the present situation. Of course, experts paid attention to this week's headlines about the tripartite consultations of Moscow, North Korea, and China. They were held in Russia for the first time. The nuclear issue is important. Nevertheless, for Russia and China, North Korea is a bordering country, as is the case for South Korea.
Igor Morgulov, Deputy Minister Of Foreign Affairs: "We are ready for multilateral and tripartite consultations with our partners from South Korea".
A banquet followed. Korean women wearing national costumes treated the guests. The banquet showed that the North Koreans were well aware of Russian traditions. The military spoke the same language. The North Korean senior colonel spoke with his Russian counterpart without an interpreter.
North Korea is a very curious country. Unlike the US, Russia maintains relations with both countries in the Korean Peninsula.
Vesti Saturday, Embassy of North Korea, Moscow.
