Russian Interior Minister Arrives in North Korea for Law Enforcement Cooperation Talks

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Russia's interior minister has arrived in North Korea for talks on enhancing cooperation in law enforcement between the two nations, a Russian news report showed Tuesday. A delegation, led by Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, arrived in Pyongyang on a working visit the previous day, according to Russia's state-run Tass news agency. The minister will hold talks with North Korean Minister of Public Security Pang Tu-sop, the news report said, noting they will "discuss cooperation between the two countries in law enforcement." North Korea's state media confirmed Kolokoltsev's arrival, noting his trip comes at the invitation of the Ministry of Public Security. North Korea and Russia have been expanding the scope of cooperation in the military, economy and other areas since they signed a mutual defense treaty in June 2024. Kolokoltsev's trip appeared to be a reciprocal visit by Pang to Russia in September, when the two nations signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation on public safety affairs and law enforcement. North Korea's public security ministry, which oversees public order, serves a similar function to that of South Korea's national police agency. At a key parliamentary meeting in March, North Korea unveiled a plan to introduce a police system, signaling that the public security ministry may be converted into a police body.