DPRK Ambassador to Mongolia, Hong Gyu (L), shakes hands with Mongolian President Taskhiagiin Elbegdorj (R) in Ulan Bator on 16 April 2013 (Photo: Info Mongolia/Government of Mongolia)
DPRK state media reported on 19 April (Friday) that newly appointed ambassador Hong Gyu presented his letter of credence to Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj on 16 April. According to KCNA, President Elbegdorj told Hong “Kim Il Sung and leader Kim Jong Il who paid deep attention to the development of the Mongolia- DPRK friendly relations at all times,” “expressed conviction that the bilateral friendly relations would grow stronger under the care of the dear respected Kim Jong Un in the future” and said “It is the consistent stand of the Mongolian government to boost the Mongolia-DPRK friendly relations.” President Elbegdorj also “supported the DPRK’s policy to achieve the independent and peaceful reunification of the country.”
Hong Gyu and a DPRK diplomat (L) meet with Mongolian President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj (C) and Mongolian government officials in Ulan Bator on 16 April 2013 (Photo: Info Mongolia/Government of Mongolia)
According to Mongolian media, during the meeting with Hong Gyu, President Elbegdorj “noted that that the 65th year anniversary of diplomatic relations established between Mongolia and North Korea marks in 2013 and emphasized that the bilateral relationship between the two countries would further boost.” Hong Gyu extended the greetings of “young Supreme Leader of North Korea” Kim Jong Un (Kim Cho’ng-u’n) and reiterated KJU’s invitation for President Elbegdorj to visit the DPRK. Mongolian media also reported that Hong Gyu “pledged to accelerate its (DPRK) economic reform.” President Elbegdorj “expressed Mongolia’s readiness of contribution to solve this (inter-Korean) dispute peacefully” and “appealed for multi-lateral talks to be held in Ulaanbatar on security of North-East Asia countries” and said that he would welcome “bilateral or multilateral talks to organize in Ulaanbatar.” Hong Gyu and President Elbegdorj agreed to expand cultural and sports exchanges. According to Mongolia media reporting, at the end of the meeting, Hong Gyu said that the DPRK “may face severe food shortages. Therefore, we ask Mongolia to seek possibilities of delivering food aid.”
Filed under: Choe Tae Bok, critical infrastructure, diploreps, DPRK Cabinet, DPRK Diplomat Corps, DPRK External Relations, DPRK-Mongolia Relations, Education Commission, Inter-Korean Relations, Kim Jong-un, KJI Personal Secretariat, Korean Workers' Party (KWP), Ministry of Culture, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Physical Culture and Sports, nason, North Korean press, Rajin-So'nbong People's Committee, State Physical Culture and Sports Commission, Supreme People's Assembly
