North Korea and Russia have signed a new agreement to enhance economic cooperation, underscoring their strengthening alliance amid mutual confrontations with the United States. The agreement, reported by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Thursday, followed high-level talks in Pyongyang this week.
While KCNA did not provide specific details, Russia’s Tass news agency noted that officials agreed to expand charter flights to boost tourism. The Russian delegation, led by Alexandr Kozlov, Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Premier Kim Tok Hun during the visit. Kozlov returned to Russia on Wednesday after presenting Pyongyang’s Central Zoo with over 70 animals, including lions, bears, and various bird species, as a gesture of goodwill.
Kim Jong Un has prioritized Moscow as a strategic partner, leveraging their alignment to counter international isolation and bolster his regime. North Korea has reportedly supported Russia’s war in Ukraine, though Kim has avoided explicitly acknowledging military aid.
South Korea’s National Intelligence Service (NIS) revealed in a closed-door briefing that approximately 11,000 North Korean troops were deployed to Russia’s Kursk region in late October, following training in northeastern Russia. These soldiers are believed to have joined Russian marine and airborne units, with some reportedly engaged in frontline combat.
The NIS also indicated that North Korea has supplied Russia with artillery, missiles, and other military equipment. Analysts estimate Pyongyang could earn between $320 million to $1.3 billion annually for sending troops to Russia. However, this income may be secondary to Kim’s potential gains in acquiring Russian military technology to advance North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
As nuclear negotiations with Washington stall, Kim has ramped up tensions on the Korean Peninsula, threatening South Korea with nuclear strikes while expanding his nuclear arsenal. He has used Russia’s war in Ukraine as an opportunity to accelerate military advancements, showcasing weapons capable of targeting both South Korea and the US mainland.
The deepening ties between North Korea and Russia highlight their shared geopolitical interests, signaling challenges for global diplomacy.
