Kathrine Frich
Russian officials say the new curriculum marks one of the most significant education changes introduced since the start of the Ukraine war.
Education policy often reflects shifting political alliances, and the latest move from Pyongyang shows just how closely North Korea has aligned itself with Russia in recent years.
As cooperation between the two countries expands, their language exchange programmes are being pushed to the forefront.
Expanding language policy
According to Politico, North Korea has introduced Russian as a mandatory subject beginning in the fourth grade.
The announcement came during a meeting of the Russian–North Korean intergovernmental commission in Moscow.
Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s Minister of Natural Resources and co-chair of the commission, said roughly 600 people in North Korea are currently studying Russian.
He noted that the language is now among the three most popular in the country.
Russians study korean as well
Kozlov said that in Russia, around 3,000 schoolchildren and 300 university students are learning Korean.
He added that 96 North Korean citizens were admitted to Russian universities last year, including MGIMO, the institution that trains many of Moscow’s diplomats.
A further 29 students have enrolled in geology programmes in Russia this year.
The minister also highlighted cooperation in banking, energy, medicine and geology.
Growing educational ties
Kozlov told the meeting that Russia is constructing a new language centre at Kim Chol Ju Normal University in North Korea, designed to expand Russian-language instruction.
Officials from both countries have portrayed these programmes as part of a broader academic partnership.
The initiatives follow years of increased diplomatic and military contact between Moscow and Pyongyang.
Educational exchanges are now being framed as an integral part of the relationship.
Broader cooperation
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the two states have strengthened their cooperation in multiple sectors.
North Korea has supplied weapons to Russia and sent personnel for tasks ranging from demining to operational support in the border region of Kursk.
Cybersecurity analysts have also observed collaboration between the Russian-linked Gamaredon hacking group and North Korea’s Lazarus Collective.
This summer, direct flights from Russia to Pyongyang began, ushering in a wave of Russian tourism.
Sources: Digi24, Politico
