25.01.2025, Moscow.
Russia is committed to actively working with North Korea to implement agreements across a broad range of areas, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s press service stated on January 24 in response to media questions prepared for a press conference by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The ministry emphasized Russia’s aim to deepen and comprehensively develop cooperation with its Korean partners in line with the agreements already in place.
Earlier reports highlighted that during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang on June 18–19, 2024, Russia and North Korea signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The law ratifying the treaty was signed by President Putin on November 9, 2024, and ratified by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on November 11, 2024. The agreement officially came into force on December 4, following an exchange of ratification documents. This treaty replaces the 2000 Treaty on Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation between the two countries.
Under Article 10 of the new treaty, the parties pledge to “increase the volume of mutual trade, create favorable conditions for economic cooperation in customs, monetary, financial, and other areas, and encourage and protect mutual investments.” The article also mentions promoting special and free economic zones in Russia and North Korea, supporting joint research in fields such as space, biology, peaceful nuclear energy, artificial intelligence, and information technology, among others.
Additionally, Article 11 outlines the development of interregional and cross-border cooperation, including efforts to “familiarize each other with their economic and investment potential through business missions, conferences, exhibitions, fairs, and other joint interregional events.”