North Korea and Russia began the 10th North Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee in Pyongyang. This is to implement the agreement reached at the North Korea-Russia summit last September.
On the 15th, the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the Labor Party, said, “Sectoral talks for the 10th meeting of the North Korea-Russia Intergovernmental Trade, Economy and Science and Technology Cooperation Committee are underway,” adding, “During the meetings attended by working-level officials from both sides, the protocols of this meeting are in place.” “Practical issues to realize cooperation in various fields are being seriously discussed,” the report said.
The newspaper reported that the Russian government delegation participating in this meeting arrived in Pyongyang the day before, on the 14th. Russian Minister of Natural Resources Aleksandr Kozlov is leading the delegation, and Russian Minister of Sports Oleg Matyshin is also included in the delegation, the newspaper added.
In North Korea, Foreign Economy Minister Yoon Jeong-ho will participate as chairman of the meeting, the newspaper reported.
The North Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee is the highest ministerial-level economic cooperation promotion consultative body between North Korea and Russia, and has been held a total of nine times since 1996. The 10th meeting was agreed to be held at the summit between General Secretary Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin last September.
The newspaper on this day did not reveal the specific agenda to be dealt with at the North Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee, but it is expected that multifaceted economic cooperation plans will be discussed, including food aid, Russia-North Korea economic logistics cooperation centered on Rajin and Khasan, and the issue of dispatching North Korean workers to Russia.
Rodong Sinmun, the organ of the North Korean Workers’ Party, reported on the 15th that the Russian government delegation visiting North Korea laid a wreath at the Liberation Tower on the 14th. Pyongyang Rodong SinmunThe Russian government delegation visited the statues of President Kim Il-sung and National Defense Chairman Kim Jong-il on Mansudae Hill in Pyongyang to place flower baskets, and visited the Liberation Tower to place wreaths. I also watched an art performance at the Mansudae Arts Theater and attended a banquet held at the Koryo Hotel.
In his banquet speech, Foreign Economy Minister Yoon Jeong-ho reiterated his intention to strengthen exchange and cooperation, saying, “We will strengthen close contact and cooperation between relevant sectors to further revitalize bilateral relations in all fields and develop them to a new, higher level.”
In response, Minister Kozlov praised North Korea, saying, “North Korea, which is fighting shoulder to shoulder at the outpost against the ruling powers, is giving Russia its full support in regional and international issues,” and added, “The agreement reached at the North Korea-Russia summit.” “We aim to develop practical cooperation accordingly,” he said.
Meanwhile, the newspaper reported that North Korea’s Ministry of Culture delegation, headed by Cultural Minister Seung Jeong-gyu, also departed Pyongyang on the 14th to participate in the 9th International Cultural Forum (Forum) to be held in St. Petersburg, Russia, showing that people-to-people exchanges between North Korea and Russia are active. It was highlighted that progress was being made.
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.