Russia and North Korea, after bilateral talks on the economy, science, and technology, have signed a protocol to expand cooperation in various sectors.
As reported by Yonhap, the agreement was signed after the two countries held the tenth meeting of the Committee on Cooperation in Trade, Economy, Science, and Technology on Wednesday, November 15, in Pyongyang.
The meeting took place in continuation of the summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in September. The Russian government delegation, led by Minister of Natural Resources Alexander Kozlov, arrived in Pyongyang on November 14 to participate in the meeting.
The parties discussed steps to "revitalize and expand multifaceted bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas, including trade, the economy, science, and technology."
It is noted that the joint committee of North Korea and Russia, an advisory body on economic cooperation at the ministerial level, has held nine rounds of meetings from 1996 to 2019.
The South Korean Ministry of Unification had previously stated that the November committee meeting would likely discuss various issues, ranging from food aid, economic and logistical cooperation, to the dispatch of North Korean workers to Russia.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that the sports ministers of North Korea and Russia held talks in Pyongyang and signed an agreement to expand exchanges and cooperation in the sports field for the years 2024-2026.