Pyongyang, July 18 (KCNA) -- Kim Jong Un, president of the State Affairs of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, sent a reply message to Bashar Al-Assad, president of the Syrian Arab Republic, on July 16.

In the message, he expressed deep thanks to the Syrian president for sending a message of reverence on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the demise of President Kim Il Sung, the great leader of the Korean people.

The message expressed the belief that the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the DPRK and Syria, provided and developed by the preceding leaders of the two countries, would grow stronger. -0-