Pyongyang, January 24 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, general secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea and president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, received a reply message from Thongloun Sisoulith, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and president of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, on January 23.

The reply message said:

Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un,

I express my heartfelt thanks on behalf of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and on my own behalf to you for sending me a congratulatory message upon my election as general secretary of the Twelfth Central Committee of the LPRP.

Your congratulations and best wishes are great strength and encouragement to me willing to firmly lead my country towards the set goal continuously.

I will do my best to bring substantial benefits to the peoples of the two countries and contribute to regional and global peace, stability, cooperation and development by steadily and firmly defending and invariably improving the long-standing relations of friendship, unity and cooperation between the two parties, two states and two peoples of Laos and the DPRK in cooperation with you and all leading cadres of the DPRK.

I wish you good health and happiness and success in your noble work.

Please accept my high regards. -0-