Britain’s Queen Elizabeth received a birthday card from North Korean leaders.
The 88-year-old monarch received a congratulatory note for her official birthday on June 14 from the second most powerful man in the dictatorship, Kim Yong-nam, the president of the Presidium of the Supreme Assembly of North Korea.
The official Korean Central News Agency reported that the message "wished the queen good health and happiness", as well as "well-being and prosperity" to British citizens.
Additionally, the British embassy in Pyongyang reportedly held a reception to mark the occasion, with guests including the Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Vice-Minister of Foreign Trade.
Experts believe the note was sent as North Korea is looking for "new friends" because China is growing increasingly close to forging an alliance with South Korea.
Toshimitsu Shigemura, a professor at Tokyo’s Waseda University and an authority on North Korean affairs, said: "North Korea is looking for new friends, while they have also sent officials to London to make money on the stock market and seek development aid.
"But there is also real concern in the leadership there that the regime could collapse without China’s support, so they are looking for a country that might provide them with political asylum. It is possible that they think Britain might provide that."
Queen Elizabeth receives birthday card from North Korea
