From animal diplomacy to tourism: North Korea, Russia highlight soft aspects of partnership
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Russia's Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology Alexander Kozlov (left) meets with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un on Nov 18.
PHOTO: AFP
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PYONGYANG – North Korea and Russia concluded a ministerial meeting in Pyongyang on Nov 20 aimed at expanding cooperation in the trade, economic, scientific and technological sectors, at a critical moment when global attention is focused on what Pyongyang might gain in return for dispatching troops to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Unification Ministry in Seoul on Nov 21 noted that neither Pyongyang nor Moscow revealed core agreements in the economic and trade sectors – areas that could potentially violate UN sanctions against North Korea.
Instead, the two countries strategically emphasised plans in non-sanctioned areas, such as expanding tourism and increasing charter flights, while softer aspects of their partnership took centre stage, exemplified by President Vladimir Putin’s animal diplomacy through the transfer of more than 70 animals.
North Korea and Russia wrapped up the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science and Technology by signing a protocol in Pyongyang on Nov 20, according to North Korean state media on Nov 21.
A Russian government delegation, led by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Alexander Kozlov, visited North Korea from Nov 17 to 20 to attend a meeting with a North Korean delegation headed by Minister for External Economic Relations Yun Jong Ho.
North Korean state media reported on Nov 20 that the meeting on Nov 19 “reviewed the implementation of the protocol from the 10th meeting held in 2023 and discussed in detail various bilateral cooperation matters across sectors such as energy, agriculture, science and technology, education, health and tourism”.
The Unification Ministry assessed that the “truly significant details are likely difficult to disclose due to sanctions on North Korea and other sensitive circumstances”.
“The disclosed aspects are those that are free from controversy and do not violate international law or sanctions,” a senior ministry official said on condition of anonymity during a media briefing. “Russia’s announcement likely did not include the most critical aspects of the discussions between the two countries.”
Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment on Nov 20 disclosed further details on what it labelled as “important agreements” in tourism, sports, culture and education.
Moscow and Pyongyang agreed to expand charter flights, with plans to launch routes not only from the Russian Far East, but also from major cities across Russia.
A Russian language education centre is set to be established at Kim Chol Ju University of Education in Pyongyang.
Both Pyongyang and Moscow also departed from the usual format of previous intergovernmental committee meetings by showcasing events not previously included.
North Korean state media reported on Nov 20 that Mr Putin had a gift – a selection of “rare animals” – delivered by the Russian delegation.
According to the Russian ministry, he sent more than 70 animals to the Pyongyang Central Zoo, including a female lion, bears and yaks – marking the first time such a special cohort of mammals was sent to North Korea.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un also met Mr Kozlov at the Workers’ Party of Korea Central Committee headquarters on Nov 18.
Since the inaugural intergovernmental committee meeting in 1996, this is the seventh of 11 sessions held in Pyongyang and notably the first time a Russian representative has met North Korea’s leader.
Mr Kim called for the two countries to “broaden and continuously promote intergovernmental trade, economic, and scientific-technical exchanges and cooperation in a more multifaceted manner in alignment” with their “friendly and cooperative relations having risen to a new strategic level”, according to North Korean state media on Nov 19.
His reception of the Russian representative may be tied to the economic benefits North Korea could receive in exchange for deploying troops.
The Unification Ministry official said: “Chairman Kim’s meeting with minister Kozlov likely aimed to express optimism for economic exchanges between the two countries.”
On the same day that saw Mr Kim’s warm reception, a notable development was the arrival of a delegation from Russia’s Military Academy of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, led by its president Vladimir Zarudnitski, according to North Korean state media. THE KOREA HERALD/ ASIA NEWS NETWORK
