ZCZC
BCN-25
RUSSIA-N.KOREA-TRADE
Russian-North Korean trade turnover drops by half in 2018 due to sanctions
MOSCOW, April 24, 2019 (BSS/TASS) – Trade turnover between Russia and
North Korea dropped more than by half in 2018 due to international sanctions,
Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov said on Tuesday.
“Bilateral trade turnover decreased substantially, by more than 56% last
year, and amounted only to $34 mln,” he said, adding that the moderate result
is “first of all connected with the fact that Russia is forced to abide by
sanctions against the DPRK.”
According to Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean
leader Kim Jong-un will discuss various aspects of bilateral relations during
the talks due on April 25. Particularly, they are expected to share opinions
on the political, as well as the economic, cultural and humanitarian agenda.
He noted that sanctions against the DPRK are the major factor pushing down
economic cooperation between the states.
Nevertheless, an intergovernmental commission co-headed by Russia’s
Minister for the Development of the Far East Alexander Kozlov from the
Russian side operates, Ushakov noted. Its latest meeting was held on March 6
in Moscow, which focused on the issues of further expansion of trade and
economic relations.
“Russia provides humanitarian aid to the DPRK, being one of the main donors
of the US World Food Program, within which Russia supplied products worth $25
mln to North Korea in 2011-2017, and another $8 mln were allocated for 2018-
2019,” he added.
Speaking about the agenda of the upcoming talks, Ushakov refrained from
specifying the issues planned for discussion. He added that neither signings
of documents nor the leaders’ joint statement are planned following the
talks.
BSS/TASS/HR/1445