Moscow/Pyongyang, May 20 (Reporter) Russia and North Korea are set to significantly deepen their burgeoning ties with a commitment to exchange multiple high-level delegations before the end of 2025, according to Russian Ambassador to Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora Speaking to the Izvestia newspaper, Matsegora flagged two key symbolic occasions for these visits: the 80th anniversary of the Liberation of Korea on August 15, marking the end of Japanese colonial rule in 1945, and the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea on October 10, the ruling party in North Korea since its inception in 1945. These anniversaries carry immense historical and political weight for Pyongyang. The ambassador further indicated that this active exchange of officials would extend beyond these landmark dates, continuing along parliamentary and foreign ministry channels. This signals a concerted effort to cultivate closer cooperation across various levels of government between the two nations. The announcement comes against the backdrop of increasingly strengthening relations between Moscow and Pyongyang, following the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. Facing international isolation and sanctions, Russia has actively sought to bolster ties with countries willing to engage, and North Korea has become a notable partner. North Korea has reportedly supplied Russia with significant quantities of artillery shells and other military equipment for use in the Ukraine conflict, potentially in exchange for economic and technological assistance from Moscow. This growing alignment has caused concern amongst Western nations, who accuse North Korea of breaching UN sanctions and Russia of seeking support from an authoritarian regime. The planned high-level delegation exchanges in 2025 underscore the deepening strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea, moving beyond simple transactional support towards a more comprehensive alignment across political, diplomatic, and potentially other areas. The focus on significant symbolic dates for North Korea further emphasises the importance both nations are placing on this evolving relationship...////...