North Korea has introduced mandatory study of the Russian language in schools.

According to ТСН: North Korea has mandated schools to teach the Russian language starting from the 4th grade.

This information was disclosed by Alexander Kozlov, the Minister of Natural Resources and Ecology of the Russian Federation, who is co-chair of the commission between Russia and North Korea.

According to him, the Russian language has remained one of the most popular foreign languages in the DPRK for many years and consistently ranks among the top three.

New educational initiatives

Kozlov noted that in 2026, a Center for Open Education in the Russian language is planned to be opened in the country, which is a close partner of Russia, based at the Kim Chol Ju Pedagogical University, where construction is underway.

He also added that the countries are expanding cooperation in the educational sector, supporting programs in banking, medicine, energy, and geology. Last academic year, 96 citizens of the DPRK became students at Russian higher education institutions.

Connections between Russia and North Korea

In Russia, according to the minister, over 3000 schoolchildren are currently studying the Korean language.

Relationships between Russia and North Korea have strengthened since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine in 2022.

North Korea supplies weapons to Russia and sends troops to participate in the war. It has also been recorded that two of the most active cybercrime groups - the Russian 'Gamaredon' and the North Korean 'Lazar' - are exchanging resources.

In August 2025, Russian tourists were invited to North Korean resorts after the opening of direct flights to Pyongyang.

Moreover, Russian tourists who visited the DPRK after the launch of the airline from Moscow to Pyongyang reported that on the planes of the local airline, they were offered a burger, the recipe of which is claimed to have been developed by the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un.

These educational initiatives demonstrate the deepening of bilateral relations between Russia and North Korea. The teaching of the Russian language in the schools of the DPRK is part of a broader context of cooperation in various fields, which, in particular, covers education, economy, and military sectors. This also indicates both countries' desire to strengthen their ties against the backdrop of global political challenges.