Amid reports that a delegation of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) visited the DPRK and discussed technical issues related to strengthening cooperation with the DPRK’s Ministry of State Security, the North Hamgyong Province State Security Bureau convened a meeting of department heads and above to convey the ministry’s orders related to the meeting with the Russian delegation.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a source in North Hamgyong Province told Daily NK last Thursday that the provincial state security bureau had relayed the orders of the Ministry of State Security at a meeting of the bureau’s senior officials held urgently after a Saturday study session on Mar. 30.
The ministry shared what was discussed with the SVR delegation, stressing that the provincial state security bureau plays a crucial role as a bastion and shield on North Korea’s border with Russia and China.
This means that the North Korean-Russian meeting basically emphasized that the two countries are important partners not only in the military and economic fields, but also in state security and intelligence projects.
The North Koreans and Russians also agreed on the need to strengthen cooperation in response to the recent increase in espionage operations by hostile forces. Specifically, they discussed concrete ways to increase IT exchanges and cooperation, conduct joint surveillance activities, and establish an information-sharing system and task force to respond to forces threatening national security.
In line with geopolitical changes, including the trend of more hostile activities between countries, the two sides had an in-depth discussion on ways to prevent cyber-attacks and electronic warfare, and agreed that the intelligence agencies of both countries will maintain contact and strengthen cooperation in the future.
“The Ministry of State Security said it summarized the meeting’s discussion to remind the bureau chiefs that North Hamgyong Province plays an important role as a key strategic area bordering the two countries of Russia and China, and to ask them to maintain vigilant surveillance over the entirety of North Hamgyong Province and Rason,” the source said.
Warning handed down about preventing incidents on border
The ministry also ordered the provincial office to do its best to ensure that no incidents, no matter how trivial, occur along the border with Russia.
“The Ministry of State Security stressed that the North Hamgyong Province State Security Bureau has a heavy responsibility because of the province’s strategic location. As such, officials of the bureau must be especially diligent in preventing any irregular political incidents or accidents in the border area and also in keeping the public under control,” the source said.
The ministry also promised to give top priority to considering and implementing any opinions or suggestions the provincial bureau may have in the future, the source added. This means that the ministry intends to give full support to such a strategically placed office.
During the meeting, the ministry also announced plans to develop concrete ways to improve its ability to monitor and respond to hostile forces and to expand the scope of cooperation and information exchange with Russia for their common interests.
According to a Mar. 28 report in the North Korean state-run newspaper Rodong Sinmun, an SVR delegation led by Director Sergei Yevgenyevich Naryshkin visited Pyongyang from Mar. 25-27. The delegation’s visit included a meeting between Naryshkin and North Korean Minister of State Security Ri Chang-dae, as well as working-level talks between members of the SVR delegation and staff of the North Korean Ministry of State Security.
Translated by David Carruth. Edited by Robert Lauler.
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