Russia, DPRK agree on joint mineral resource exploration
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The announcement was made following the 10th meeting of the intergovernmental commission between DRPK and Russia on trade, economic, scientific, and technological cooperation, held in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
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In this photo provided by the DPRK government, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left in second row, walks with DRPK counterpart Choe Son Hui, right in second row, as he prepares to lay a wreath in front of the statues of the country's late leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il on Mansu Hill in Pyongyang, DPRK Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023
The Russian Ministry of Natural Resources announced on Friday that Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) have decided to jointly explore gold, iron, and rare metal deposits through geological means as well as explore hydrocarbon deposits offshore.
The announcement came following the 10th meeting of the intergovernmental commission between North Korea and Russia on trade, economic, scientific, and technological cooperation, held in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
The ministry explained that mineral resources management is a "potential area for development," explaining that the two countries had agreed on "joint geological exploration of gold, rare metals, and iron deposits as well as on the offshore exploration of hydrocarbons."
After Pyongyang provides the required geophysical maps, the ministry's Mineral Resources Management Department will draft a plan for geological exploration, according to the statement.
Later in the day, Alexander Kozlov, the Russian Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, announced that Russia's initiative to increase trade in agricultural goods with Pyongyang would include a test delivery of meat products to the country in 2024.
The minister further stated that topics covered in the meeting included cooperation in sports and culture, an intergovernmental agreement on the mutual recognition of diplomas and academic degrees, and student exchange programs between the two countries.
Last week, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova rejected Western allegations claiming that Russia's collaboration with the DPRK breached UN Security Council resolutions.
In October, White House Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby claimed, without substantiating evidence, that the DPRK had provided Russia with over 1,000 containers of military gear and ammunition meant for deployment in Ukraine.
In October, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited the DPRK, following Kim Jong Un's trip to Russia in September and Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu's visit to Pyongyang in July.
During Kim's September visit, he toured the Komsomolsk-on-Amur aviation plant named after Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin and held discussions with President Vladimir Putin.
Putin described the talks as "highly productive," emphasizing the open exchange of views on East Asian affairs and bilateral relations.
