Russia, North Korea mark 63rd anniversary of diplomatic ties

Russian and North Korean officials have marked the 63rd anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties in an event at the North Korean embassy in Moscow, Russia''s News Agency (RIA Novosti) reported. Tuesday evening’s event was attended by Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexei Borodavkin. "The current year is an historic one for the development of Korean-Russian ties," the North Korean ambassador told guests at the function. North Korean leader Kim Jong-il met with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev earlier this year in Siberia and Russia’s Far East. A rail link between Russia and North Korea has also recently been opened and the two countries have plans for a pipeline to carry Russian gas through North Korean territory to the South.