(MENAFN) North Korea has mandated Russian language instruction in schools as ties between Pyongyang and Moscow intensify to unprecedented levels.

Alexander Kozlov, Russia's minister of natural resources and environment and co-chair of the Russia-North Korea intergovernmental commission, validated the policy shift, noting that more than 3,000 Russian students are presently studying Korean, a news agency reported Thursday.

"Russian has been introduced as a compulsory language in North Korean schools starting in the fourth grade. In Russia, more than 3,000 schoolchildren are currently studying Korean. Most of them are studying Korean as a second or third foreign language," Kozlov said.

The Russian minister indicated both nations are expanding collaboration across multiple domains, including banking, energy, and medical education sectors.

North Korea has substantially strengthened relations with Russia in recent years, culminating in troop deployments to support the ongoing Moscow-Kyiv conflict.

During a September meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Beijing, China's capital, Russian President Vladimir Putin publicly confirmed for the first time that North Korean soldiers participated in the Ukraine war at Kim's initiative.

South Korea's National Intelligence Service informed lawmakers in April that no fewer than 600 North Korean troops had perished while fighting with Russian forces against Ukraine.

The intelligence agency assessed that Pyongyang had likely sustained over 4,700 casualties since its military personnel entered the conflict last year.

North Korea and Russia formalized a comprehensive strategic partnership last year, committing to reciprocal military assistance if either nation faces aggression by a third party.

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