In a move signalling deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea, Moscow has sent 447 goats to the reclusive nation as part of a growing partnership between the two countries.
The shipment follows a thorough veterinary inspection carried out by Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, which verified the sanitary conditions of the animals before dispatching them to North Korea.
This initial delivery consisted of 432 female goats and 15 males, marking the first batch of live animals to be exported from Russia to North Korea. The goats were shipped from Russia’s Leningrad region to the North Korean border city of Rason, according to a statement from Rosselkhoznadzor posted on Friday.
This livestock export comes amid intensifying collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow, a relationship that has strengthened in the wake of last year’s summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Both countries, isolated on the global stage by international sanctions, have found common ground in mutual cooperation, with agricultural aid emerging as a prominent focus of their evolving partnership.
The shipment of goats to North Korea appears to be part of a broader effort to address the country’s persistent food shortages, particularly its struggle to provide adequate nutrition for its children. Chronic malnutrition remains a significant challenge in North Korea, and the shipment is aimed at providing dairy products to alleviate some of these issues.
North Korea’s state media, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), reported on 9 August that large-scale goat farms had been constructed in the western port city of Nampho. According to the KCNA, these farms are intended to increase the availability of dairy products for children in the area. The initiative is part of a broader government strategy to ensure that children across North Korea have access to nutritious food, with the goal of combating malnutrition and stunted growth.
The construction of goat farms and the emphasis on boosting dairy production follow a directive from Kim Jong-un during a plenary party meeting in June 2021, where he called for state resources to be allocated to provide all children in North Korea with dairy products and other essential food items. This policy reflects the North Korean government’s efforts to address the chronic food insecurity that has plagued the country for decades.
The situation remains dire for many children in North Korea. In 2022, a report jointly published by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank Group revealed that one in six North Korean children under the age of five—approximately 285,000 children—were suffering from stunted growth due to malnutrition. While this figure marks an improvement from 2012, when 411,300 children were estimated to be affected by stunted growth, the issue continues to be a pressing concern for the country.
North Korea’s food insecurity is driven by a combination of factors, including natural disasters, poor agricultural practices, and economic mismanagement. Additionally, international sanctions, imposed in response to North Korea’s nuclear weapons programme, have exacerbated the country’s economic isolation, further limiting its ability to import food and agricultural supplies.
In this context, Russia’s provision of livestock can be seen as a crucial lifeline for North Korea. The goats are expected to bolster dairy production and provide a source of nutrition for children, addressing a vital need in the country’s ongoing struggle with food shortages. This aid also underscores the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, as both nations seek to strengthen bilateral ties in the face of international sanctions and diplomatic isolation.
The shipment of goats is likely just one of many future exchanges between the two countries, with agricultural support serving as a key area of collaboration. As both nations continue to face economic challenges and geopolitical pressures, their mutual cooperation is likely to expand across various sectors, including food production and resource sharing.
For North Korea, these efforts are part of a larger strategy to mitigate the effects of food insecurity on its population, particularly its vulnerable children. While the shipment of goats and the establishment of goat farms represent positive steps towards alleviating malnutrition, the country’s broader food crisis will likely require sustained international support and domestic policy reforms to fully address.
In the meantime, the goats sent from Russia offer a measure of relief, symbolising the strengthening ties between Pyongyang and Moscow and highlighting the importance of agricultural aid in North Korea’s ongoing efforts to provide for its population.
Read also:
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[…] The reported exchange of horses for military supplies is part of a broader pattern of mutual gift-giving between Putin and Kim, highlighting their increasingly collaborative relationship. In June, after signing a “comprehensive partnership agreement,” Kim Jong-un gifted Putin a pair of Phungsan dogs, a breed native to North Korea, as reported by the North Korean state news agency KCNA. Putin reciprocated in August by sending 447 goats to North Korea. […]