Kim Yong-nam, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People’s Assembly of North Korea, is flying to Iran via Russia to attend Iranian President Hassan Rouhani’s inauguration.
He is attending the inauguration ceremony on the invitation of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency.
Kim Yong-nam, 80, has frequently taken on the role of North Korea’s head of state since its “eternal president” President Kim Il Sung died in 1994, carrying out official meetings at home and abroad. He has described relations with Iran as long-standing, adding that Pyongyang is keen on expanding its relations with Tehran.
North Korea and Iran, which share anti-American sentiment and have reportedly cooperated in weapons development, have strengthened their diplomatic relations recently, as reported by South Korea’s Yonhap.
Choi Tae-bok, Chairman of the Supreme People’s Assembly, was the last North Korean senior official to visit Iran in February of this year to meet with Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, Yonhap reported.
Rouhani secured his second term as president in Iran’s May elections.
The inauguration of Rouhani as the 7th President of Iran will occur in two stages. The first round will take place on August 4 when he receives his presidential precept from Supreme Leader Khamenei. The second round is scheduled for August 6 when he is sworn into the office in the parliament.
