President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has accepted credentials of the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Hyun Joon.

Ambassador Kim Hyun Joon reviewed a guard of honor.

Kim Hyun Joon presented his credentials to President Ilham Aliyev.

The Azerbaijani President then spoke with the ambassador.

The head of state noted the necessity of strengthening mutual activity and cooperation between the two countries in different areas in the years ahead. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his hope that active cooperation will be maintained in international organizations, most importantly in the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. The head of state added that Azerbaijan hosted a foreign ministerial conference of the Non-Aligned Movement this year, recalling his meeting with the foreign minister of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on the sidelines of the event. The President said that Azerbaijan will host a summit of the Non-Aligned Movement next year. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his confidence that bilateral relations between the two countries will be continued in different formats.

Ambassador Kim Hyun Joon greeted the President of Azerbaijan on behalf of the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un and the president of the Presidium of the country`s Supreme People's Assembly. Saying that the friendly relations between the two countries are built on historical traditions, he added that the foundations of the bilateral ties were laid by supreme leader Kim Il-sung and national leader Heydar Aliyev. The ambassador said the Democratic People's Republic of Korea was one of the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan after the country restored its independence, adding that the bilateral relations have been developing over these years.

President Ilham Aliyev thanked for the greetings of the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un and the president of the Presidium of the country`s Supreme People's Assembly, and asked the ambassador to extend his greetings to the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Jong-un and the president of the Presidium of the Supreme People's Assembly.