In a post on Facebook, the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang stressed that Mr. Ri's schedule was "very busy." Accordingly, Mr. Ri is expected to hold talks with Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev and meet other Russian agriculture and fisheries officials during the trip, according to the KCNA news agency on April 21.
Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during the Russia-North Korea Summit in Russia on September 13, 2023.
The embassy said Mr Ri would also visit the Nemchinovka Federal Research Center, which focuses on grain research, and the Russian National Agrarian University.
In 2022, North Korea upgraded its Ministry of Agriculture to a State Commission, a move seen as a move to prioritize domestic agricultural development.
In addition, at a major policy-making meeting of the ruling Workers' Party in December 2023, Mr. Kim spent much of the review time presenting the need to increase agricultural productivity, calling for the modernization of agricultural equipment and improvement of irrigation systems, according to Reuters on April 21.
The trip comes amid deepening ties between North Korea and Russia following North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's visit to Russia and summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in September 2023.
The two countries have exchanged several delegations since their leaders' meeting in September last year, and the frequency of visits has increased in recent months, KCNA said.
US and South Korean officials have expressed concern that the focus of closer cooperation is military , accusing North Korea of shipping weapons to Russia for use in the fighting in Ukraine. Both Russia and North Korea deny the allegations.
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