Pyongyang, March 25 (KCNA) -- The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a reply message to Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, president of the Russian Federation, on March 24.

The reply message said:

Esteemed Comrade Vladimir Putin,

I express my sincere thanks to you for sending warm and sincere congratulations first on my reassumption of the heavy duty as President of the State Affairs of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Today the DPRK and Russia are closely cooperating to defend the sovereignty of the two countries and promote the well-being of the peoples through strong mutual support and assistance of alliance character.

I'm convinced that the firm relations and trust between us will undoubtedly guarantee the durability and future purposefulness between the DPRK and Russia and powerfully promote the development and wellbeing of the peoples of the two counties.

Pyongyang will always be with Moscow.

This is our choice and unshakable will.

I extend my warmest wishes to you and, through you, to the fraternal Russian people, expressing thanks to you once again. -0-