A delegation from North Korea’s Ministry of Social Security officials departed from Pyongyang for a visit to Russia.
The Workers’ Party’s official newspaper, Rodong Sinmun, reported on Tuesday that a delegation led by Comrade Bang Doo-seop, Minister of Social Security of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, left Pyongyang on the 1st for a visit to Russia.
The newspaper did not disclose specific details about their itinerary or objectives.
The Ministry of Social Security, which is equivalent to U.S. police organization, held a vice-ministerial-level meeting with officials from Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs in Pyongyang last May. The discussions focused on expanding and developing exchanges and cooperation between the security agencies of the two countries.
Analysts suggest that North Korea’s renewed contact with Russia after three months may be aimed at discussing security measures for North Korean workers deployed to the reconstruction project in the Kursk region or addressing future personnel reinforcements.
Sergei Shoigu, the Secretary of the Russian Security Council, announced after meeting with Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang last June that North Korea had agreed to send a total of 6,000 military engineers and construction personnel to assist with reconstruction efforts in Russia’s Kursk region.