North Korea, Russia strengthen ties with new digital cooperation deal

North Korea and Russia held a joint exhibition of technological products in Pyongyang this week, where IT enterprises from both countries shared their experience in high-tech development and showcased their own innovative products and scientific-technical developments, according to the North Korean outlet KCNA.

Amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war, North Korea has supplied Moscow with at least 11,000 containers of ammunition, including approximately two million artillery rounds since 2023. Additionally, South Korea’s intelligence reports say Pyongyang has sent 3,000 troops to Russia, with plans to deploy 10,000 by December. The Ukrainian military says the first North Korean units, after training at Russia’s eastern grounds, have already arrived in Russia’s Kursk Oblast combat zone.

The Western countries have condemned Russia’s ties with North Korea. However, the cooperation between two countries continues to increase.

“The IT Products Exhibition-2024 featured scientific achievements and high-tech products, including software (both system and application), data protection solutions, information, communication, and digital technologies, as well as industrial information devices developed by educational and research units and enterprises of North Korea and the Russian Federation,” the report stated.

KCNA did not provide details on the participants and their products, only noting that IT products and technological developments presented by North Korean institutions, such as the High Technology Development Institute and Samwon IT Exchange, as well as “several Russian companies,” attracted the attention of experts and visitors.

During the exhibition, participants from both countries shared experiences on topics such as mobile communications, information security, industrial information systems, and digital technologies.

Details on the outcomes of the exhibition were not disclosed by either side, but on 30 November, KCNA reported that an agreement on cooperation was signed at the exhibition between the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and the North Korean Ministry of Information Technology in Pyongyang. The agreement provides for cooperation between the two countries in the field of communications, information technology, and digital development.

Most countries around the world have refrained from doing business with North Korea in recent years, as UN sanctions imposed due to its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile program restrict joint ventures and the import and export of certain goods, including electronics, according to UkrInform.

A special group of experts from the UN Sanctions Committee on North Korea had been monitoring the sanctions’ compliance; however, in March, Russia vetoed the extension of its work, and the monitoring of sanctions enforcement was suspended.

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