North Korean leader Kim Jong-un met with Russia’s Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova in Pyongyang on Sunday to explore ways of deepening bilateral cooperation in culture and the arts, according to North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
The meeting, held at the Central Committee headquarters of the ruling Workers’ Party, was also attended by Russian Ambassador to North Korea Alexandr Matsegora. Lyubimova is leading a Russian culture ministry delegation on a visit to Pyongyang, which began Saturday, to commemorate the first anniversary of the North Korea–Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty.
During the talks, Kim hailed the “broad and in-depth exchanges” across sectors following the treaty’s signing, noting that these efforts have yielded “tangible contributions to the mutual development and well-being” of both nations. He emphasized that cultural and artistic exchanges serve as vital instruments in shaping public sentiment and reinforcing the “ties of friendship, comradeship, and mutual understanding.”
“It is important for the cultural sector to guide the relations between the two countries,” Kim said, according to KCNA. “It is necessary to further expand the exchange and cooperation in the field of culture and art to know well about each other’s excellent cultural traditions and learn more.”
Kim highlighted Lyubimova’s visit, alongside Russian art troupes, as a meaningful step toward enhancing North Koreans’ understanding of Russian culture. He expressed confidence that the visit would bolster the “militant comradeship and feelings of friendship” between the two nations.
For her part, Lyubimova described the visit as occurring at a time when the “solidity and invincibility” of the DPRK-Russia friendship is more evident than ever. She noted that cultural cooperation between the two nations has reached an all-time high.
The leaders also discussed future plans for bilateral cultural exchanges and attended performances by both Russian and North Korean art troupes. Notably, KCNA-released images from the event showed a stage backdrop depicting North Korean forces supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict, with performers waving both nations’ flags.
Kim’s daughter, Ju-ae, accompanied him at the meeting, marking her second appearance at a high-level diplomatic event, following her attendance at the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang in May.
Separately, North Korea’s Culture Minister Sung Jong-gyu held talks with Lyubimova at the Mansudae Assembly Hall, where the two signed a bilateral cultural cooperation agreement covering the period from 2025 to 2027.
The series of meetings underscores the growing ties between Pyongyang and Moscow, particularly in cultural and military spheres, following the signing of a mutual defense pact on June 19, 2024.
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