Russia and North Korea have signed an agreement to deepen cooperation in education, including the launch of language centers in both countries.
Russian Education Minister Sergey Kravtsov and North Korean Education Minister Kim Seung-doo formalized the deal on the sidelines of the Third International Forum of Ministers of Education, ‘Shaping the Future’, in Kazan on Wednesday.
Under the agreement, Moscow will help establish a Russian language and general education center in Pyongyang, and a Korean language center will be set up in Russia. The deal also includes joint fairs, academic competitions, exhibitions, and seminars. Both countries aim to expand the use of electronic learning tools and promote Russian and Korean among schoolchildren.
Russian became a mandatory subject in North Korean schools starting from the fourth grade in 2024. More than 100 North Korean teachers completed a Russian refresher course that year, hosted by Blagoveshchensk State Pedagogical University.
The forum brought together officials from over 30 countries. Russian President Vladimir Putin addressed the event via video, urging stronger global cooperation in education.
Bilateral ties between Russia and North Korea have expanded in recent years, including political, military, and economic engagement. In 2023, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Putin in Russia to discuss defense and trade cooperation.
In June 2024, the two countries signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which includes a clause providing for military and other assistance in the event of an invasion of either side. Both countries confirmed the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia’s Kursk Region earlier this year to assist in repelling a Ukrainian incursion.
Russia and North Korea have also explored joint projects in energy and logistics, while coordinating efforts to mitigate the impact of international sanctions.