Moscow will fund rescue training for North Korean specialists from 2027 to 2031, and both emergency ministries have signed a joint action plan through 2029.
Russia North Korea disaster management cooperation entered a new phase on Monday after Russia’s Emergencies Ministry (EMERCOM) and North Korea’s disaster management ministry signed a joint plan for 2027 to 2029, TASS reported. The signing took place in Pyongyang during the first visit to North Korea by a Russian emergencies minister, Alexander Kurenkov. It follows a Russian government decision to pay for five years of training for North Korean first responders, according to NK News.
What the Russia North Korea Disaster Management Cooperation Plan Covers
TASS said the plan has four directions. EMERCOM will train North Korean emergency specialists and upgrade their skills at its Far Eastern Fire and Rescue Academy. Russia will also help North Korea buy fire and rescue equipment made in Russia. A Russian delegation will visit North Korea to study how it handles disaster recovery and help for affected residents, and a North Korean delegation will travel to Russia for talks on further work.
Interfax reported that Kurenkov described the cooperation as being of mutual interest and as part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty between the two countries.
Who Pays for Rescue Training in Vladivostok?
NK News reported that Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin signed a decree on September 30 ordering EMERCOM to organize “training of specialists from the national emergency service of the DPRK” in Vladivostok. The outlet said EMERCOM is expected to cover 61.5 million rubles, about $734,255, over the five years. SBS News, citing NK News, put the amount at roughly 1 billion won.
SBS also reported that Russian authorities said in December that North Korean firefighters and paramedics would be invited to Vladivostok for free training. According to SBS, the curriculum under development covers communications, drone systems, and water and mountain rescue. The Far Eastern Fire and Rescue Academy will host the programme, and the decree covers the years 2027 to 2031.
How Pyongyang Moscow Cooperation Reached This Point
According to TASS, the two ministries signed a memorandum of understanding in Moscow on May 31, 2024. Yonhap, through The Korea Times, reported that a specialist training agreement covering scientific and technical cooperation followed in December. The same report said a Russian ministry delegation visited Pyongyang in July last year to inspect disaster prevention and response sites.
Yonhap noted that Pyongyang Moscow cooperation has expanded into military and economic fields since leader summits in September 2023 and June 2024. It added that North Korea faces repeated flood damage and is said to be seeking stronger responses to natural disasters.
Details of the Kurenkov Visit to Pyongyang
NK News reported, citing Flightradar24 data, that Kurenkov’s delegation landed at Pyongyang’s Sunan International Airport at about 10 p.m. local time on Sunday on a government flight from Moscow. Yonhap, citing North Korean state media, said Disaster Management Minister Kim Chol Nam and Russian chargé d’affaires Vladimir Topekha received the group. TASS said Kurenkov was also due to meet Premier Pak Thae Song. NK News added that North Korea is looking to acquire Russian rescue equipment.
When Will North Korean First Responders Begin Training?
The decree reported by NK News covers 2027 to 2031. The reports reviewed for this article did not give a start date for the first group, the number of trainees or the dates of the planned delegation visits.
The wider relationship between the two countries has drawn attention in Washington. The Congressional Research Service says it has implications for sanctions and the war in Ukraine. The reports on the emergency plan did not link it to either issue. Readers can follow related developments in Tamrah News war updates and world news.
FAQs: Russia North Korea Disaster Management Cooperation
What is Russia North Korea disaster management cooperation?
It is the partnership between EMERCOM and North Korea’s disaster management ministry. A joint plan for 2027 to 2029 covers training of North Korean first responders, help buying Russian fire and rescue equipment, and visits by delegations from both sides, according to TASS.
Will Russia train North Korean first responders for free?
SBS News reported that Russian authorities said the training would be free. NK News reported that EMERCOM is expected to fund the programme from 2027 to 2031.
Where will rescue training in Vladivostok take place?
At the Far Eastern Fire and Rescue Academy, according to the Russian government decree reported by NK News.
How much is Russia spending on North Korean first responder training?
NK News reported 61.5 million rubles, about $734,255, over five years. SBS News gave the figure as roughly 1 billion won.
Who is Alexander Kurenkov and why did the Kurenkov visit matter?
Kurenkov is Russia’s emergencies minister. TASS described his trip to Pyongyang as the first by a Russian emergencies minister to North Korea.
When does the Russia North Korea emergency plan start and end?
The joint action plan runs from 2027 to 2029. The training funding covers 2027 to 2031.
What did the earlier specialist training agreement cover?
Yonhap reported that the December agreement between the two ministries covered specialist training and scientific and technical cooperation.