Recent reports confirm that North Korean technicians in the coal and power sectors have participated in training programs in China over the past few years. This development suggests the possibility of expanding behind-the-scenes exchanges in areas of high demand for North Korea, as tensions in North Korea-China relations appear to be easing as of Wednesday.
Pingdingshan Industry Vocational Technology College in Henan Province, China, recently announced on its website that it officially launched a North Korean Coal Specialist Training Program on May 18. Twenty North Korean trainees are scheduled to undergo specialized training for 14 days.
According to the website, this training program is sponsored by China’s Ministry of Commerce, which is equivalent to South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. It is co-hosted by the Foreign Aid Education Center of Henan University of Technology as part of a foreign aid education initiative.
The polytechnic college has reportedly received approval from the Ministry of Commerce to conduct this training program since 2021. The goal is for North Korean coal industry technical and management personnel to acquire practical techniques and management methods in the coal industry. This aims to address bottlenecks in their domestic coal industry through learning from China’s experiences.
In 2023, the college reportedly received approval from the Ministry of Commerce for a training program aimed at coal mining experts from developing countries, following North Korea. The classes will focus on the latest developments in the coal industry and North Korea’s specific technical requirements. The program emphasizes practical training and the exchange of experience to cultivate specialized personnel.
A social media post from May 17 featured photos of a training session conducted by the state-owned Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina). The session, held at a hotel in Changsha, Hunan Province, targeted specialized technicians from North Korea’s Ministry of Electric Power Industry, technicians involved in the production of power generation equipment, and energy application specialists.
The photos captured North Korean participants wearing badges with images of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong Il on their left chests. They were shown receiving group t-shirts with PowerChina’s logo from plastic bags labeled Hanryong at the registration table. However, the specific date of the training session was not confirmed.
North Korea and China exhibited a somewhat distant relationship from 2022 to 2024, as ties between North Korea and Russia intensified. Nevertheless, it appears that China’s support for North Korea’s essential industries continued at a low level during this time.
This year, North Korea and China seem to be making efforts to improve their relationship. High-level communications between diplomatic authorities have resumed, and China is highlighting symbolic locations of friendship between the two countries, creating a favorable atmosphere. Consequently, there are predictions that the scope of China’s support for North Korea in the economic sector could expand.