High-level meeting between Russia and North Korea triggers tensions
Senior North Korean economic officials held discussions with the governor of a Russian region along the Pacific coast to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries, as reported by North Korean state media on Wednesday. The meeting in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, raised concerns in South Korea about potential violations of U.N. Security Council resolutions, speculating that North Korea might be expanding its labor exports to Russia to generate revenue for its struggling economy and fund leader Kim Jong Un’s nuclear weapons program.
According to the official Korean Central News Agency, the North Korean delegation, led by the country’s external economic relations minister, Yun Jong Ho, met with a delegation led by Oleg Kozhemyako, the governor of the Primorye region in the Russian Far East. The discussions aimed to elevate economic cooperation between the countries to “higher levels,” although the report did not specify the nature of the cooperation discussed. Kozhemyako, prior to his visit, mentioned to Russian media that he anticipated talks on expanding cooperation with North Korea in agriculture, tourism, and trade.
Deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea
Both the U.S. and South Korea accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery shells and other weapons, alleging support for Russia’s actions in the war on Ukraine. South Korea and the US both consider North Korea being supported and backed by Russia. While China is also deemed to be helping North Korea as South Korea is a strong ally of the US.
However, Russia and North Korea have denied such transfers. There are additional concerns that North Korea may be planning to send workers to Russia to acquire much-needed foreign currency, potentially violating U.N. Security Council sanctions imposed on North Korea due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
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Kozhemyako’s visit is part of the ongoing diplomatic engagements between North Korea and Russia this year, highlighted by a summit between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September.