Moscow: A high-ranking official from North Korea's ruling Workers' Party has engaged in discussions with the secretary general of Russia's ruling United Russia party, culminating in the signing of a protocol to enhance cooperation between the two political entities, as reported by North Korea's state media. Ri Hi-yong, a member of the Workers' Party of Korea's Central Committee Politburo, met with Vladimir Yakushev, the secretary general of the Russian party, on Tuesday in Moscow, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
According to Yonhap News Agency, the discussions focused on measures to elevate party-to-party exchanges to align with the comprehensive strategic partnership between North Korea and Russia. The talks also explored strategies to increase coordinated efforts between the parties. Following these discussions, a protocol was signed to expand cooperation across various sectors and to deepen development efforts from 2025 to 2027, as per KCNA's report.
Ri Hi-yong led a delegation from North Korea's Workers' Party upon his arrival in Moscow on Monday, at the invitation of Russia's ruling party, as earlier reported by KCNA. This visit and subsequent agreement are part of the ongoing efforts to bolster cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, following the establishment of a mutual defense treaty last year. The two nations have since enhanced their bilateral cooperation across defense, economy, sports, and other fields.