Interparliamentary friendship groups have an important role to play in this work.
Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council Inna Svyatenko held a meeting with the head of the Group for Promoting Korean-Russian Friendship at the Supreme People’s Assembly of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Lee Cheol[ИН1] , who is leading a DPRK parliamentary delegation on a visit to Russia.
Inna Svyatenko noted that bilateral ties between the two countries were at their highest point in development, owing to the special attention given to them by the two leaders: President of Russia Vladimir Putin and DPRK President of State Affairs Kim Jong-un.
“The signing in 2024 of the Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the DPRK has sealed the rise of our traditionally friendly, good-neighbourly relations to a qualitatively new level. The Agreement contains basic principles governing the development of cooperation aimed at an all-out intensification of partnership and strategic interaction,” the Senator said.
Inna Svyatenko stressed that units of the Korean People’s Army had participated in the liberation of the Kursk Region from Ukrainian armed groups and gangs of foreign mercenaries under Article 4 of the Agreement. “We will always remember that the DPRK was with us at a difficult historical juncture.”
The Deputy Speaker also noted that the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation was working actively. According to Inna Svyatenko, cross-border collaboration was under way. A significant event was the launch of construction work on a motor bridge across the Tumannaya River, and air services were resumed between Moscow and Pyongyang.
“The Federation Council is ready to continue a constructive dialogue and close joint work with our Korean colleagues for the benefit of our countries and peoples,” Inna Svyatenko said.
In turn, Lee Cheol expressed confidence that the DPRK delegation’s visit to Russia would help expand interparliamentary cooperation and mutually beneficial ties between the two countries. “Today, our relations have climbed to a new level of comprehensive strategic partnership,” he said.
Lee Cheol also had a meeting with Deputy Chair of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs and head of the Group for Cooperation between the Federation Council and the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Vladimir Dzhabarov.
Vladimir Dzhabarov noted that last year had been marked by a surge in bilateral relations. “We appreciate the DPRK leaders’ firm support for the special military operation in Ukraine and generally for Russia’s foreign policy course.”
The Senator stressed that interparliamentary dialogue was set to play an important role in Russian-Korean interstate relations. “We are ready to build up close contacts, attaching much importance to friendship groups.”
Vladimir Dzhabarov reported that the Federation Council, as the chamber of the regions, was focusing on the development of interregional cooperation. Twin-city relationships have been established between Moscow and Pyongyang, Vladivostok and Wonsan, Nakhodka and Rason, and Ulan-Ude and Haeju. In September of this year, Kursk established partner relations with North Korea’s Kaesong.
He noted that bilateral tourist exchanges had grown five-fold over last year. He also emphasised the importance of further cooperation in research, technology, and higher education. There is a steady interest in Russian university training, with over 130 DPRK citizens currently enrolled in higher educational institutions in Russia.
The meeting was attended by members of the Federation Council Group for Cooperation with the DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly Sergei Gornyakov, Bair Zhamsuyev, Alexander Rolik, and Gennady Ordenov.