The Russian government has donated fire engines to North Korea, the Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Monday.
The North Korean news outlet reported that a ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion. In attendance were the vice-premier of the DPRK Cabinet Ro Tu Chol, the vice minister of foreign affairs, Kung Sok Ung and Kim Sung Bom, vice-minister of the People’s Security.
Several Russian officials were also at the ceremony, including Yuri Trutnev, deputy Prime Minister and presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District of Russia, and his party on a visit to the DPRK. The Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Timonin and his embassy staff were also in attendance.
The speakers at the ceremony expressed their belief that the fire engines signified the warm sincerity and friendship of the Russian people and would play a big role in ensuring the security of the Korean people, KCNA added.
The donation was made as Russia’s vice-premier Yury Trutnev arrived in Pyongyang for a three-day visit to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.
The visit is the latest in a series of higher-level meetings between Russian and North Korean officials.
In March, Russian news agency RIA Novosti reported that Russian officials in March stated an intention to explore new markets following the introduction of sanctions by the west over Russian action in Crimea.
At that time, Leonid Petrov, a North Korea researcher at the Australia National University, told NK News that was likely the reason why Russia is currently seeking to warm ties with the DPRK.
“North Korea and Russia now have something in common; they are under international sanctions. They both share anti-Americanism, contempt to international laws, and pose military threat to neighbors,” Petrov said.
In early April, the two countries signed an economic development protocol with the aim of increasing annual bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2020, and last week, Russia formally wrote off 90 percent of the North’s debts.
Featured Image: Russian Minister Yury Trutnev, Wikimedia Commons
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