North Korean Minister of Foreign Trade Ri Ryong Nam will begin his week-long visit to Russia on February 23 to discuss further cooperation between the two countries.

First on Ri’s agenda is a three-day trip to Russia’s far eastern city of Vladivostok. The visit is just one of numerous diplomatic exchanges, highlighting growing North Korean involvement with Russia’s eastern provinces. Experts, however, remain unconvinced the deepening political ties will result in any tangible cooperation.

“It is too early to say, but the outbursts of the diplomatic activities might be misleading, since they will not necessarily translate into the growth of