Kathrine Frich
Russia and North Korea have steadily deepened their military cooperation over the past years
Thousands of North Korean troops is deployed to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
The growing alliance has raised concerns among Western officials about the scale of coordination between the two countries.
Now, that cooperation appears to be expanding into the information battlefield.
Deepening ties
Russia’s TASS news agency and North Korea’s KCNA have signed an agreement to jointly counter what they describe as “disinformation” spread by their opponents.
According to AFP and Agerpres cited by Hotnews, the deal marks another step in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement was signed on March 28 and includes cooperation in tackling information campaigns on both bilateral and international levels.
Information war
TASS director general Andrei Kondrashov said the partnership reflects what he described as a global “information war.”
“The agreement (…) is based not only on a long-standing friendship, but also takes into account the completely new realities of the information war taking place on our planet today,” he said.
He also claimed that “many enemies do not like this and that is why campaigns have been launched against Russia and North Korea to spread false information.”
Shared messaging
North Korea’s state media confirmed the deal would involve exchanges of content and closer coordination between the two agencies.
KCNA reported that cooperation would include “exchanges of press articles” and broader collaboration, though details remain limited.
Kondrashov met with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui during the visit, according to KCNA.
Wider alliance
The agreement comes amid expanding military and economic ties between the two nations.
North Korea has supplied troops and weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Moscow has reportedly provided financial aid, energy resources and military technology in return.
“The courage and willingness to sacrifice shown today by the soldiers and officers of the Korean People’s Army are already engraved in modern history,” Kondrashov said.
Global criticism
Western governments have long accused Russia of spreading disinformation, while both countries rank near the bottom of global press freedom rankings.
Reporters Without Borders places North Korea second to last in its index, while Russia ranks 171 out of 180.
Analysts say the growing partnership allows Pyongyang to diversify its alliances beyond China, while strengthening Moscow’s position internationally.
Sources: AFP, Agerpres, KCNA, TASS, Reporters Without Borders
