South Korean Government Delegation Visits North Korea... Kim Jong-un Personally Welcomes
Cooperation Extends from Military to Trade and Technology Sectors
Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, personally welcomed the Russian government delegation visiting North Korea and emphasized "deepening cooperation." This reflects an acceleration of comprehensive close ties, extending from the military sector to trade and technology-related cooperation.
According to the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th, Chairman Kim Jong-un met with Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Natural Resources, who led the Russian delegation visiting North Korea the previous day. He assessed that solidarity and cooperation between the two sides have become closer in various fields since the signing of the North Korea-Russia treaty, emphasizing that "the government-to-government trade, economic, and scientific and technological exchanges should be promoted more broadly in line with the new strategic height reached by the DPRK-Russia friendship and cooperation relationship."
North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un is meeting with Alexander Kozlov, Minister of Natural Resources of Russia, who visited North Korea leading the Russian delegation. Photo by Yonhap News.
Kim Jong-un's words welcoming the Russian delegation are also reflected in the North Korea-Russia treaty. Article 10 of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement" stipulates that both parties shall promote the expansion and development of cooperation in trade, economy, investment, and science and technology fields. It calls for increasing mutual trade volume and creating favorable conditions for cooperation in customs, finance, and monetary sectors. In particular, cooperation is to be expanded to include space, information technology, and artificial intelligence (AI) sectors.
North Korea and Russia are steadily implementing the new treaty following Article 4 (automatic military intervention clause), which is regarded as a military alliance. At the evening banquet, Yun Jeong-ho, Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, attended; he is responsible for North Korea's domestic and foreign trade, import-export, and foreign investment attraction. He was also present at the North Korea-Russia summit where the new treaty was signed. This highlights that the focus of this "meeting" is on the economic sector.
North Korea appears to be seeking a breakthrough in sanctions through Russia. After the treaty signing in June, President Vladimir Putin stated in an article published in the Rodong Sinmun that they would create a "trade and mutual settlement system not controlled by the West." This means that North Korea and Russia intend to establish their own trade and settlement system that is independent of the US-centered international financial system and the US dollar, the key global currency.
At that time, President Putin even demanded a "review of sanctions on North Korea" at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). Russia, a permanent member of the Security Council, has also blocked the expert panel monitoring sanctions implementation. Although a "Multinational Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT)" was launched mainly by South Korea and the United States, doubts remain about its effectiveness.
Meanwhile, photos released by North Korean media show Chairman Kim coming out of the building to greet Minister Kozlov and following him out again after the meeting to see him off. This resembles the surprise and unannounced warm welcome that President Putin gave to Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui when she visited Moscow on the 5th.
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