Pyongyang:North Korea and Russia have entered into a three-year cooperation agreement focusing on disaster management, as reported by state media. This development follows ministerial discussions held in Pyongyang.

According to Anadolu Agency, the talks were conducted between North Korean Disaster Management Minister Kim Chol Nam and Russian Emergency Situations Minister Alexandr Kurenkov at the Pyongyang Assembly Hall. The discussions centered on sharing experiences and achievements in disaster prevention, alongside plans to enhance bilateral cooperation and exchanges.

The cooperation plan, signed for the years 2027-2029, involves North Korea's Ministry of Disaster Management and Russia's Ministry of Civil Defence, Emergency Situations, and Elimination of Aftermaths of Natural Calamities. The meeting was attended by North Korean Vice Minister of Disaster Management Ri Su Gil, Russian Ambassador Andrei Podolyshev, and other officials. A reception was also held in honor of the Russian delegation.

The agreement is part of the growing relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang. In June 2024, a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, which includes provisions for mutual military assistance. Following this, North Korea committed troops to aid Russia in its conflict with Ukraine and agreed to dispatch 6,000 military personnel to support mine clearance and infrastructure efforts in Russia's Kursk region by June 2025.