Russia and North Korea Forge Closer Ties Through Art

There has been consecutive North Korea-Russia cooperation, including the Russian delegations of each level visiting North Korea in a row.

The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 19th that the Russian delegation of the Ministry of Culture and the Yeonhaeju delegation arrived in Pyongyang on the 18th.

According to the report, the Russian Ministry of Culture delegation, led by Deputy Minister Andrey Malyshev, arrived in Pyongyang on the 18th to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the North Korea-Russia Economic and Cultural Cooperation Agreement.

The delegation includes the Yeonhaeju division of the Russian Mariinsky Theatre, which is expected to perform ballets on tour, such as “Sleeping Beauty” and “The Firebird,” at the Mansudae Art Theatre in Pyongyang.

North Korean officials, including Deputy Minister of Culture Pak Kyong Chol and the Consul of the Russian Embassy to North Korea, welcomed them at the Pyongyang International Airport, and a banquet was held at the Yanggakdo Hotel that evening.

The delegation from Yeonhaeju, led by Governor Oleg Kozhemyako, arrived in Pyongyang today.

Ji Kyung Su, Deputy Minister of External Economic Relations, and Alexander Matsegora, the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, welcomed them at the Pyongyang International Airport. The Ministry of External Economic Relations prepared a banquet at the Pyongyang Koryo Hotel.

The Russian Embassy to North Korea announced via Facebook that Governor Kozhemyako and the Yeonhaeju delegation, along with Deputy Minister Malyshev and representatives from the Ministry of Culture, visited the Moranbong Liberation Tower on the 19th to lay wreaths.

At the banquet, Deputy Minister Malyshev revealed that Russian artistic groups are participating in the 33rd April Spring Friendship Art Festival and are preparing for a North Korean film screening project in Moscow. Additionally, they are proceeding with the business to amend the legal norms regarding cultural cooperation.