The new Russian ambassador to North Korea has emphasized the country's status as an important diplomatic partner, signaling a commitment to strengthen ties.
According to a statement on the Russian embassy's Telegram channel on October 10, Andrei Leonidovich Podyolyshev stated in an interview with the Russian news agency Interfax that "North Korea, which shares a border with us, has always held an important position as a diplomatic partner and will continue to do so in the future."
He cited the treaty on a "comprehensive strategic partnership" established during the North Korea-Russia summit in June 2024 and the deployment of North Korean troops to the Ukraine war as examples of cooperation.
Podyolyshev stressed the need to explore ways to expand cooperation in trade, economy, investment, transportation and logistics, energy, natural resources, agriculture, health, science, education, culture, sports, and tourism. He also highlighted the importance of enhancing direct exchanges between local governments and businesses of both countries.
He specifically mentioned the upcoming 13th North Korea-Russia Trade, Economic, and Scientific Cooperation Committee meeting, scheduled to take place in Pyongyang later this year, as a key agenda item.
Furthermore, he noted that Russian investment projects, which are exempt from UN Security Council sanctions, continue to be pursued in North Korea, referencing the modernization of the Khasan-Rajin railway (51 km) and the construction of a multi-modal transshipment terminal at Rajin Port.
Podyolyshev also pointed to the opening of the Tumen River automobile bridge (Novichenko Bridge) as a significant achievement, stating that the next infrastructure project will be the construction of a Russia-DPRK Friendship Hospital in Wonsan.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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