Kim Yong Nam sends congratulatory message to Iran's Rouhani

Feb. 12 (UPI) -- North Korea's titular head of state Kim Yong Nam sent a message of congratulations to President Hassan Rouhani on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the revolution that turned Iran into an Islamic republic.

Pyongyang's Workers' Party newspaper Rodong Sinmun reported Tuesday that Kim, president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly of North Korea, had sent the congratulatory message to Rouhani on Monday.

Kim not only congratulated the Iranian leader on the anniversary but also called for expanding relations.

"I would like to express on this occasion my conviction the commendably friendly and cooperative relations between our two countries will further expand and develop, and sincerely hope for great achievements while guarding the gains made through the Islamic revolution," Kim said.

North Korea state media also reported the Iranian embassy in Pyongyang held a banquet at the Taedong River foreign ministry hall, where members of the North Korea-Iran friendship delegation including Tae Hyong Chol were present. Other North Korean officials in attendance included deputy chief Han Man Hyok of the Korean Workers' Party, deputy foreign minister Shin Hong Chol and North Korean women's delegation vice chair Chae Chun Hee.

North Korea and Iran have maintained friendly relations and were recently mentioned in a report from the U.S. Department of Defense on space threats.

According to the new Pentagon report, "Challenges to Security in Space," published Monday, North Korea and Iran cannot be ignored for potential space threats.

While Russia and China pose the greatest threats to U.S. satellites in space, Iran and North Korea have "demonstrated satellite jamming" and "maintain independent space launching capabilities," according to the report.