A delegation of Russian Far East officials led by Primorsky Krai Governor Oleg Kozhemyako arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, according to North Korean media.
The bilateral talks are expected to touch upon topics ranging from reviving tourism to joint construction projects.
DPRK Vice Minister of Foreign Economic Relations Ji Kyong Su and Russian embassy officials reportedly welcomed the dignitaries at Pyongyang International Airport.
As recently as last month, the governor announced he would make the trip before the end of the year and intended to discuss revitalising tourism between the DPRK and his region, bilateral trade and Russian-language education for North Korean students.
Kozhemyako also revealed plans to provide agricultural land to North Korean farmers and even establish a joint “industrial and trade park” with China and North Korea.
Chris Monday, a Russia expert at Dongseo University, suggested that sending Oleg Kozhemyako to Pyongyang signalled “opportunities for North Koreans to work in the Russian Far East,” arguing that North Korean labour units would likely replace Central Asians in construction work.
The expert stated that “Russia wants to keep things low key” after Pyongyang launched its military satellite with possible help from Russia. According to Monday’s report, Moscow is unwilling to provide “the US media with any incendiary media clips concerning North Korea,” with Russian state sources refraining from mentioning the DPRK in recent weeks.
North Korea appears to be at the top of Governor Kozhemyako’s foreign agenda as Moscow and Pyongyang seek to strengthen ties. He also discussed the possibility of joint construction projects with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un during his visit to Russia in September.
NK Pro noted that a number of Russian companies in Vladivostok continue to employ North Korean workers, which could be a violation of UN sanctions aimed at halting funding for weapons of mass destruction programmes.
