Russia Exports 447 Goats To North Korea, Strengthening Bilateral Ties

Russia has approved the export of 447 goats to North Korea as part of deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Russia’s agriculture safety watchdog, Rosselkhoznadzor, confirmed the shipment following a review of veterinary and sanitary conditions. The first batch, consisting of 432 female and 15 male goats, was dispatched to a North Korean trading company, destined for the border city of Rason.

This shipment is part of ongoing efforts to bolster ties between the two nations, following last year’s summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The goats are likely intended to boost dairy production for North Korean children, addressing chronic food shortages in the country.

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North Korea has recently built large-scale goat farms in the western port city of Nampho, aiming to enhance dairy production. State media reported on August 9 that these efforts are part of a broader initiative to provide dairy products for children, aligning with Kim Jong-un’s 2021 policy directive to improve child nutrition nationwide.

Despite a decline in the stunting rate, malnutrition remains a significant issue in North Korea, with one in six children under age 5 affected in 2022, according to a report by the U.N. Children’s Fund, the World Health Organization, and the World Bank Group. The report indicated that 285,000 children in this age group were suffering from stunted growth, although this figure has decreased from 411,300 in 2012.