Russia to Establish New Russian-Language Education Center in Pyongyang

Russia plans to establish a new Russian-language education center in Pyongyang, according to Russian Ambassador to North Korea Andrey Podelyshev.

Podelyshev noted that North Korea already operates a Russian Center at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies, which hosts nationwide Russian-language competitions each year. The planned new center would add to that existing infrastructure for Russian-language instruction in the North Korean capital.

The announcement reflects the deepening ties between Moscow and Pyongyang in recent years, as the two countries have expanded cooperation across a range of areas including education and cultural exchange. Language centers have historically served as tools for cultural diplomacy, offering instruction, resources, and programming to promote a country's language and culture abroad.

Details on the timeline, funding, or exact location of the planned Russian-language education center have not been disclosed. It is also unclear whether the new center would operate independently of the existing Russian Center at the Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies or work alongside it.

The Pyongyang University of Foreign Studies is North Korea's primary institution for training students in foreign languages, and its existing Russian Center has organized annual competitions that draw participants from across the country, according to Podelyshev.

Neither the Russian embassy nor North Korean authorities have released further specifics about the new initiative or its expected launch date.