Russia and North Korea expand their economic ties in new agreement

North Korea and Russia reached a new agreement for expanding economic co-operation following talks in Pyongyang this week, according to North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency.

Although the details of the agreement are sparse, Russian media said Tuesday that an earlier round of talks between North Korean senior trade officials and a Russian delegation agreed to increase the number of charter flights between the countries to promote tourism.

Alexandr Kozlov, Russia's minister of natural resources and ecology, arrived in North Korea on Sunday and departed Wednesday, with Russian President Vladimir Putin gifting North Korea's zoo with over 70 animals including lions, bears and birds — a display of the countries growing ties.

The agreement is another sign of increased co-operation between the two countries, who recently ratified a landmark defence pact agreeing to provide each other with mutual military assistance if attacked.

Increased co-operation

North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un hasn't directly acknowledged that he has been sending troops and military equipment to help fight Russia's war in Ukraine.

However, US, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence estimate that around 11,000 North Korean soldiers are engaged in combat in Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a surprise insurgency against Russia earlier this year.

South Korea's national intelligence agency told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing on Wednesday that it believed North Korean soldiers were assigned to Russia's marine and airborne forces units, with some fighting on the frontlines.

The spy agency also claims that the North has been supplying Russia with artillery systems, missiles and other equipment.

The trade between the two countries has sparked concerns in South Korea on what the North stands to gain in exchange for its military aid to Russia.

Officials in Seoul have previously expressed fears that the North could acquire key Russian technologies that would be critical in further expanding its nuclear weapons and missile programme.

Kim has recently dialed up pressure on South Korea, verbally threatening to attack its neighbour with nuclear weapons if provoked. His nuclear-armed military currently has various nuclear-capable systems targeting South Korea, as well as intercontinental ballistic missiles that could potentially reach the US mainland.

The leader has in recent months has prioritised relations with Moscow as he attempts to break out of international isolation and strengthen his footing, actively supporting Putin’s war on Ukraine while portraying the North as a player in a united front against Washington.