Russian delegation of emergency ministry visits Pyongyang: report

▲ This Associated Press photo shows the Russian Emergencies Ministry's deputy head Roman Kurynin (L) arriving in North Korea. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

N Korea-Russia-cooperation

Russian delegation of emergency ministry visits Pyongyang: report

SEOUL, July 16 (Yonhap) -- A delegation from Russia's emergency ministry arrived in Pyongyang for talks on potential cooperation in the fields of science and technology, according to a Russian media report.

The delegation, led by the Russian ministry's deputy head Roman Kurynin, arrived in the North Korean capital at the invitation of North Korea's state emergency disaster committee, according to a Tass report on Tuesday.

The Russian ministry also noted that the delegation will visit disaster prevention and response sites in North Korea during the trip and hold discussions on cooperation in science and technology, as well as in training firefighting and rescue experts.

Tass quoted Kurynin as saying, "We are happy that our Korean colleagues are interested in joint work in science and technologies ... The Russian Emergencies Ministry has accumulated serious expertise and we are ready to share it."

The two state agencies of Russia and North Korea signed a memorandum of understanding on addressing natural disasters last year, which will remain in effect through 2026, Tass said.

The trip is the latest in a series of exchanges between North Korea and Russia, which have stepped up cooperation across various fields following the signing of a mutual defense treaty in June last year. This has included the deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia in its war against Ukraine.

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