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| ▲ This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency on March 21, 2025, shows members of a Russian delegation, led by Russia's Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, laying a wreath at the Liberation Tower in Pyongyang. (For Use Only in the Republic of Korea. No Redistribution) (Yonhap) |
(LEAD) N Korea-Russia
(LEAD) Russia's party delegation arrives in N. Korea amid deepening bilateral cooperation
(ATTN: REWRITES lead; UPDATES with more info in paras 3-5)
SEOUL, April 1 (Yonhap) -- A delegation of Russia's Communist Party has arrived in North Korea, Pyongyang's state media said Tuesday, as both nations have been deepening cooperation in the military and other fields.
The delegation, led by Kazbek Taysaev, secretary of the Russian party's central committee, arrived in Pyongyang on Monday, the Korean Central News Agency said, without disclosing other details, including the purpose of the visit.
The visit came as North Korea and Russia have expanded the scope of cooperation in the military, economy and other areas since they forged a mutual defense treaty in June last year.
"As the Communist Party is Russia's opposition party, (the delegation's trip) is seen as part of symbolic exchanges of their traditional and friendly ties," an official at Seoul's unification ministry, told reporters.
The Communist Party is Russia's second-largest party after the ruling United Russia. Taysaev also serves as head of the Russia-North Korea friendship parliamentary group of the State Duma.
The party delegation's visit came as Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko said last week that preparations are under way for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to visit Russia this year, without specifying the exact timing of the visit.
There is speculation that Kim may travel to Russia, possibly in May on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Russia's Victory Day. Russian President Vladimir Putin invited Kim to visit Moscow during his trip to Pyongyang last June for summit talks.
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