About the Author
Ifang Bremer
Ifang Bremer is a Seoul Correspondent at NK News. He has worked on investigations for The Guardian and The Observer and previously wrote features on Korea for Dutch newspaper NRC.
Russia and North Korea have concluded a new agreement designed to improve safety and maintenance standards of their carriers, a move that one expert said appears to be part of joint efforts to increase cooperation as they confront growing international isolation.
DPRK Ambassador Sin Hong-chol and Russian deputy transport minister Igor Chalik signed the deal late last week, according to North Korean state media. Russia’s transport ministry stated that the agreement ensures two-way recognition of safety checks, training certifications, flight simulator standards and mutually recognized maintenance and inspection standards.