North Korea seeks stronger ties with Iran to fight U.S.

(RTTNews) - North Korea sought strengthening of relations with Iran "in the struggle for independence against imperialism and the United States."

This was stated by Yang Hyong Sop, vice-president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, at a reception Thursday for visiting Iranian vice President Mohammad Javad Haji Ali Akbari.

Washington has branded Iran as a state sponsoring terrorism, while North Korea was removed from the U.S. blacklist only recently.

Speaking in Pyongyang, Akbari said friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries are developing steadily in the political, economic, cultural and other fields.

He is in the Communist country as part of a youth cultural exchange program.

North Korea's official KCNA news agency said national youth organizations of both the countries signed a memorandum of understanding on friendly exchange and cooperation Friday.

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