PYONGYANG – North Korea's leading agriculture official, Ri Chol-man, has traveled to Russia for discussions, potentially signaling deeper agricultural cooperation between the two nations, as reported by North Korea's state media on Sunday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, a delegation from the state agriculture commission, led by Ri who also serves as a cabinet vice premier, departed for Russia by plane on Saturday. The Russian Embassy in Pyongyang shared in a Facebook post that Ri is set to meet with Russia's Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev, along with other officials in the Russian agriculture and fisheries sectors. The visit includes scheduled stops at the Nemchinovka Federal Research Center, known for its grain research, and the Russian State Agrarian University. The embassy described the delegation's itinerary as "very busy."
This visit occurs against a backdrop of heightened interactions between North Korea and Russia following a rare summit in Far East Russia last September, sparking speculations about potential Russian assistance with North Korea's persistent food shortages. In 2022, North Korea elevated its agriculture ministry to a state commission, underscoring a focus on agricultural development amid ongoing food challenges. This trip is part of a series of engagements, with North Korean forestry ministry officials also traveling to Russia on Friday for talks on bilateral cooperation.