South China Morning Post, Nanboyi
On June 28th, the Russian Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, led a delegation to visit North Korea and praised the “unparalleled level” of cultural cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
According to a reference message quoting foreign media reports, the delegation led by Lyubimova consisted of 125 actors, including members from the Piatnitski Chorus and the Greli Dance Troupe.
Lyubimova posted on social media that in the coming days, the delegation will hold a series of concerts and lectures in Pyongyang.
This visit coincides with the first anniversary of the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and North Korea.
On June 2024, Russian President Putin and North Korean General Secretary of the Workers’ Party and Chairman of the State Council, Kim Jong-un, signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in Pyongyang. Putin expressed that this document is crucial and will be the foundation for further development of relations between the two countries. Kim Jong-un stated that the bilateral relations between North Korea and Russia have been elevated to an alliance level.
Lyubimova stated that thanks to the agreement reached by the leaders of both countries, “the cooperation between the two countries in the cultural field has reached an unprecedented level.”
According to the North Korean media, DPRK, Kim Jong-un attended the grand opening ceremony of the Yuanshan Gemacoa Tourism Zone on June 24th.
The tourism zone can accommodate nearly 20,000 people and has been described by Pyongyang as a “world-class cultural resort.” It will open to domestic tourists in North Korea on July 1st. Russian news agency TASS reported that the tourism zone will receive Russian tourists for the first time on July 7th.
North Korea has opened its border to Russian tourists since February last year, but it has not fully reopened to all foreign tourists yet.