PYONGYANG, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday congratulated Russia on the 72nd anniversary of the former Soviet Union's victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.
The victory in the Great Patriotic War was historic and the Soviet Union won the victory at the cost of blood, shouldering the heavy burden of World War II, according to Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Central Committee of the ruling Korean Workers' Party.
"The Korean people extend congratulations and friendly greetings to the Russian people on the 72nd anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War, hoping that everything would go well in Russia," said a commentary published on the paper.
"The DPRK-Russia friendship favors the interests of the two peoples and guarantees peace in the region. The bilateral relations of friendship and cooperation will grow stronger thanks to the joint efforts of the two countries," it added.
Russia on Tuesday celebrated the anniversary with a grand military parade at the Red Square in Moscow.
