Russian delegation visits Pyongyang to discuss cooperation on disaster management

A delegation from Russia's emergency ministry visited Pyongyang to discuss ways to expand cooperation in disaster management, the North's state media reported Monday.

The delegation, led by Aleksandr Kurenkov, Minister of Emergency Situations, arrived in Pyongyang on Sunday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The delegation was greeted by Kim Chol-nam, the North's Minister of Disaster Management, and Vladimir Topekha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian Embassy in North Korea.

The same delegation visited Pyongyang in July last year, inspected the North's disaster prevention and response sites and held discussions on cooperation in science and technology.

Pyongyang and Moscow have stepped up cooperation in a number of fields, including military and economy, following back-to-back summits between their leaders in September 2023 and June 2024.

The ongoing visit by the Russian delegation comes after the Russian ministry and the North's corresponding ministry signed an agreement on specialist training and scientific and technical cooperation in December.

North Korea, prone to chronic flood damage, is said to be seeking to strengthen response measures to such natural disasters.

Yonhap