North Korean authorities have made Russian language study mandatory for children beginning in elementary school. A senior Russian official disclosed the development on Thursday as both countries continue strengthening ties amid their shared isolation from the West.
Alexander Kozlov, Russia’s Natural Resources and Environment Minister, said Russian has been introduced as a compulsory subject from the fourth grade. He referred to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea. He added that Russian remains one of the most popular foreign languages in the country. He said around 600 North Korean students currently study it.
Kozlov also noted that 96 North Korean citizens enrolled at Russian universities during the previous academic year. He did not specify when the mandatory lessons would start. North Korean authorities have not yet confirmed the policy.
Embassy Expands Cultural and Language Outreach
Russia’s Embassy in Pyongyang said last week that it continues to promote Russian language education for university students. It said two Pushkin Institute instructors have stayed in Pyongyang for a month under a two-month program. They are teaching Russian language and culture classes to nearly 250 students.
Kozlov added that language exchange flows in both directions. More than 3,000 Russian schoolchildren currently study Korean as a second or third language. He also said around 300 Russian university students are learning Korean through various programs.
Bilateral Relations Grow Stronger
North Korea and Russia have expanded cooperation since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Their partnership has grown amid mounting tensions with Western governments. President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual defense pact last year.
Pyongyang later dispatched thousands of soldiers to support Russian forces. The deployment followed Ukrainian advances in the western Kursk region. Both governments continue to highlight their strategic alignment as global divisions widen.
The growing emphasis on language education reflects the broader partnership. Officials in both capitals present these programs as long-term investments in cultural ties. They also view them as tools that strengthen political and economic cooperation.
