Russia has found a new friend in North Korea as the bilateral ties between the two nations continue to strengthen. Vladimir Putin’s strict regime is complementing the diplomatic steps of Kin Jong Yun, the dictator of North Korea. While the defense ties between the two have sparked alarms, sports isn’t too far behind and is set to prove the intimacy between the two countries. Russia sports minister announced that he has promised a “Russian-Korea Summer Games” on a biennial basis.

North Korea, a catalyst?

The sports ministries between the two countries met in the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang to discuss steps to be taken across the sporting sector. It is believed that the two have signed a protocol for sports exchanges in 2025. Given the rest of the world has cornered Russia ever since it’s Ukraine invasion and North Korea has practically been in exclusivity when it comes to sporting ventures beyond the big events. The question is are Putin and Kim Jong Yun using diplomatic ties to resurrect and strengthen their sporting cultures that are in a bit of a slumber? Putin visited North Korea to strengthen ties between the two countries, It did not take long enough for Russia and North Korea to solidify their interests in the sporting world in an attempt to gain some lost ground.

While the rest of the world including prominent sporting bodies like FIFA and the IOC have banned Russia ever since its invasion of Ukraine, North Korea is busy signing sports protocols with Russia for exchange changes with set to take place next year. Recently, a Russian delegation visited stadiums in North Korea to take a look at their sporting infrastructure. So it is safe to say that Russia-North Korea ties are going to bring back the Russian sports from it’s slumbers.