North Korea strengthens ties with Russia amid stalled nuke talks with US
North Korea and Russia earlier in March held the 9th Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for Cooperation in Trade, Economics, Science, and Technology in Moscow. Yonhap
By Jung Da-min
North Korea is strengthening its strategic relations with Russia, while denuclearization talks with the U.S. have been stalled without progress for three weeks since the Hanoi summit.
In a meeting between North Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Im Chon-il and his Russian counterpart Igor Morgulov in Moscow on March 14, the two sides agreed to “bolster up mutual support and collaboration in tackling the issue of the Korean peninsula,” the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Sunday.
This is to steadily develop the traditional and strategic North Korea-Russia relations, this year marking the 70th anniversary of the conclusion of the two sides' agreement on economic and cultural cooperation, KCNA added.
Im and Morgulov signed a 2019-2020 plan of exchange between the two countries.
North Korea has called for Russia's cooperation to “ensure the peace and security of the Korean peninsula,” while Im also met Sergei Vershinin, vice foreign minister in charge of international organizations of Russia on March 16.
On the same day, a delegation of the Russian Federal Assembly led by chairman of the Federal System, Regional Policy, Local Autonomous and Northern Affairs Committee Oleg Melnichenko arrived in Pyongyang to commemorate the 70th anniversary of North Korea-Russia friendship.
Economic cooperation between the two countries has recently been strengthened as well, with the 9th Intergovernmental Committee (IGC) for Cooperation in Trade, Economics, Science, and Technology in Moscow, and discussed joint projects such as a new cross-border bridge and plans for a “trading house” based in Vladivostok.
Meanwhile, South Korea's Special Representative for Korean Peninsula Peace and Security Affairs Lee Do-hoon, also headed to Russia on Monday to hold a meeting with his Russian counterpart Morgulov on Tuesday in Saint Petersburg.
Lee told reporters at Incheon International Airport on Monday that “it's important to have close consultations with other countries, join hands and resolve the problem” at this critical time for the peace of the Korean Peninsula.