Russian official exchanges New Year's gifts with NK leader's sister

MOSCOW — The spokesperson of Russia's foreign ministry said Tuesday that she and the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un have exchanged New Year's gifts, as Moscow and Pyongyang have deepened their partnership on security, diplomacy and other fronts. Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson, said in a post on Telegram, a messaging app, that she received a gift from Kim Yo-jong, vice department director of the North's ruling Workers' Party Central Committee, via North Korean Ambassador to Russia Sin Hong-chol, and that she sent a portrait of Kim in return. Zakharova posted a photo of the portrait painted by Nikas Safronov, a prominent artist, along with a photo of a large vase that appears to have been sent by Kim. In the post, she said that though she is not personally acquainted with Kim, she and Safronov thought that the portrait illustrated what appeared to be "incompatible but essential" attributes: tenderness and femininity, along with strength and determination. The exchange of gifts came as Russia and the North have been strengthening their cooperation since Russian PWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times