Kim Jong-un, the Chairperson of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, sent a message of condolence to Russia over the death of the Russian ambassador to North Korea and expressed sympathy.
On the 9th, the Korean Central News Agency reported that the Chairperson sent a condolence message to Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the death of Alexander Matsegora, the Russian ambassador to North Korea.
According to the Korean Central News Agency, the Chairperson said in the message, "On behalf of the government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I extend my deepest condolences and sympathy to Comrade Putin, the leadership of the Russian Federation, and the bereaved family."
The Chairperson continued, "Ambassador Matsegora was a close friend and comrade of the Korean people who devoted his life over the past 30-plus years to developing the DPRK–Russia (North Korea–Russia) friendship," adding that it was "a great loss to our people."
Following the Chairperson, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui was also reported to have sent a condolence message the same day to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
In the message, the foreign minister said he was "a versatile and seasoned diplomat," adding, "Along with the history of friendship between the two countries, he will long be remembered as a noble role model for a new generation of diplomats."
The Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the 8th (local time) that Ambassador Matsegora died at age 70 on the 6th. The cause of death was not mentioned.
Ambassador Matsegora began his service in 1999 as first secretary at the Russian Embassy in North Korea, later serving as minister-counselor and other posts at the embassy, and was appointed ambassador to North Korea in Dec. 2014.
Serving as ambassador to North Korea for 10 years from Jan. 2015, Ambassador Matsegora recently played a linking role between the two countries as the Russia–North Korea alignment deepened.