[단독]“North Korea-Russia to Expand Trade Across All Areas After June Summit”

Imports of sanctioned items such as refined oil to North Korea appear to have expanded
North Korean hospital delays opening by importing medical equipment
Contrast with 19% decrease in North Korea-China trade volume in July
Choi Sun-hee meets Russian diplomats in Moscow

Kim Jong-un warmly welcomed by Shoigu
North Korea’s Rodong Sinmun reported on the 14th that North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un (right) met with Russian State Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu, who visited Pyongyang on the 13th. The photo shows Chairman Kim behind the wheel of a German Mercedes-Benz, smiling brightly with Secretary Shoigu in the passenger seat. The fact that he treated a non-state leader with special treatment by sitting next to him is interpreted as a scene symbolizing the close North Korea-Russia relationship that has grown to the point of forming a military alliance. Pyongyang Rodong Sinmun = News 1

It has been reported that intelligence authorities are monitoring the trend of North Korea and Russia expanding trade in items that violate North Korean sanctions in all directions since the June summit. It appears that machinery, equipment, refined oil, and luxury goods being imported from Russia to North Korea are increasing more than before. In particular, it has been reported that medical equipment from Russia is being imported to Pyongyang General Hospital, which was not able to open despite the order to complete construction by the end of 2020 as a key project of Chairman Kim Jong-un.

In June, the North Korea-Russia summit concluded the ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty’, specifying the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in virtually all areas of society, not just the military. Since then, the actual trade volume, including smuggling, has expanded even more than last year. This trend of expanding trade between North Korea and Russia is drawing attention as it coincides with the recent decline in trade between North Korea and China. According to the General Administration of Customs of China, trade volume between North Korea and China in July was $144.75 million, down 18.8% from the previous month. Trade volume has continued to decrease since recording $193.99 million in April.

Intelligence authorities are also keeping an eye on the possibility that Pyongyang General Hospital, which has been struggling to open despite Chairman Kim’s attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony in March 2020 and ordering completion by the 75th anniversary of the founding of the party in October of that year, could be completed this year thanks to cooperation in the healthcare sector between North Korea and Russia. A government source said, “Although the exterior construction has been completed, Pyongyang General Hospital remained an empty shell until the end of last year due to the inability to import medical equipment due to sanctions against the North. There is intelligence that used medical equipment, etc. are being gradually imported through Russia starting this year.”

In January of this year, Chairman Kim emphasized his will to improve North Korea’s backward medical system in his speech at the Supreme People’s Assembly, saying that he would open the Pyongyang General Hospital within this year and build a modern general hospital in Gangwon Province. On the 31st of last month, he added the construction of local hospitals in cities and counties to the “20×10” policy for local development and ordered that they be completed unconditionally within this year. Analysis suggests that this is an expression of confidence in introducing infrastructure such as medical equipment with Russian support.

Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui met with Minister Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on the 17th (local time) to discuss ways to develop North Korea-Russia relations. Choe Son-hui visited Russia for the first time in eight months since January to attend the 4th Eurasian Women’s Forum and the 1st BRICS Women’s Forum, which will be held in St. Petersburg from the 18th to the 20th. Prior to this, on the 13th, Sergei Shoigu, Secretary of the State Security Council and former Minister of Defense until May of this year, visited Pyongyang and met with Chairman Kim. Amid the possibility of an escalation of the Ukraine War, it is possible that military cooperation, including anti-Russian weapons support and the transfer of advanced technology to North Korea, were discussed.

Exclusive to Dong-A Ilbo >

I also recommend these subscriptions!

• 

  BreakFirst

• 

  Kim Sun-mi’s Secret Garden

• 

  Underline

Reporter Shin Gyu-jin [email protected]

• great

  0dog

• I’m sad

  0dog

• I’m angry

  0dog

• I recommend it

  dog

Hot news right now

2024-09-19 15:21:29