Russia will boost ties with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Tuesday.

Putin made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to his DPRK counterpart Kim Yong Il on the 60th anniversary of the signing of the agreement between Russia and the DPRK on economic and cultural cooperation, said the Russian government in a statement.

"This is the first interstate document in the history of our bilateral relations putting a legal foundation for mutually advantageous and equal cooperation not only in the economic and cultural sector, but also in all other areas," it said.

Putin hailed the interaction with the DPRK, saying that Russia will promote cooperation in political, economic, scientific and cultural sectors with the DPRK and make a joint effort to maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

(Xinhua News Agency March 18, 2009)