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 Sept. 16.

The message said:

I express deep thanks to you for sending warm congratulations on the occasion of the 76th founding anniversary of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

Expressing belief that the traditional DPRK-Syria relations of friendship and cooperation would be consolidated and developed in conformity with the aspiration and desire of the peoples of the two countries, I extend firm support and solidarity to the Syrian people in their just struggle for defending the sovereignty of the country and territorial integrity.