The trip of a delegation of Russian parliamentary parties to the DPRK for the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea was an event that went beyond the usual interparty interactions. What is modern North Korea really like? What are the real prospects for military-technical and economic cooperation with Russia? Anatoly Lokot, First Secretary of the Novosibirsk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, discussed this and much more in an exclusive interview.
— Anatoly Evgenievich, tell us how you ended up on the delegation that went to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Workers’ Party of Korea?
“Please note: this was not a state anniversary, but a party holiday, yet it was celebrated at the national level, as a national holiday. We were invited by our Korean comrades, and an inter-party delegation was formed from four Russian parliamentary parties. The delegation was headed by Dmitry Georgievich Novikov , Deputy Chairman of the CPRF Central Committee . Also included were Kazbek Kutsukovich Taysayev , Secretary of the Central Committee; Andrei Klychkov , Governor of the Oryol Region , who signed a sister city agreement with one of the DPRK provinces; and Oleg Kim , representing the Korean diaspora. I was included as a representative of Novosibirsk, which has a special historical relationship with the DPRK, linked to the heroic deed of Yakov Novichenko , who saved the life of leader Kim Il Sung. This was the decision of our party’s Central Committee.”
— The visit’s program was extremely packed. Which events were most memorable, and why?
“First of all, the spectacular concert at the 150,000-seat stadium. It was completely full, despite the rain. Tens of thousands of athletes and artists participated. I was struck by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s speech —the crowd stood and applauded, and it didn’t seem ostentatious. It was a demonstration of the society’s solidarity.”
— The Night Parade is an unusual format. What can you say about it?
"Yes, the parade started at 10:00 PM. At first, I didn’t understand why it was held at night. It turned out it was for the spectacle. The special lighting effects, the laser show, the fireworks in the dark sky—it all made a colossal impression. Under the spotlights, the march of the columns of vehicles and soldiers looked powerful and harmonious.
— The global media is actively discussing the new weapons displayed at the parade. What did you see and what conclusions did you draw?
The DPRK demonstrated its latest missiles: hypersonic, medium-range, and intercontinental. They showed three prototypes of the launch vehicles, indicating serial production. The strike range is over 15,000 kilometers. This was a clear hint for everyone. But for some reason, everyone sees something else. Hundreds of thousands of troops participated in the parade. I was amazed by their absolute coordination—not the slightest mistake. Afterward, it became clear to me why the Korean volunteers fought so heroically at Kursk—for them, military duty comes first.
— Were there any moments during the parade that particularly touched the Russian delegation?
“Yes, and this was unprecedented. One of the columns marched in full Russian army uniform, with AK-12s, and carrying two flags—North Korea and the Russian Federation. They marched to the marching song “I Serve Russia.” We couldn’t help but join in, shouting “Hurrah!” and becoming emotionally involved in the parade. It was a very powerful experience.”
— Besides military might, what else did they show you? What is Pyongyang really like?
“All the stories about a ‘backward country’ are just fairy tales. We saw a well-maintained, modern city of Pyongyang. Clean and tidy. As a former mayor, I noticed this. There are no advertisements at all. All the billboards are patriotic. They are dedicated to the army, the leaders, the party. The structures are harmoniously integrated into the architecture. We were shown a modern resort in Wonsan, magnificent hotels. We were amazed that they are being built not in stages, but entire blocks at once, with complete and immediate results.”
— Turning to the practical side of the visit, were any agreements reached on cooperation with Novosibirsk enterprises?
“Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to visit the production facilities—the entire week was packed with official events. But I had a folder with proposals from our manufacturers. We began discussions about cooperation, and they were very encouraging. It’s too early to talk about the final results; I don’t want to jinx it, but I’m hopeful for a positive outcome.”
You mentioned Korean workers. How relevant is this issue for Novosibirsk?
“Our manufacturers are very interested in migrant workers from the DPRK. They are disciplined and hardworking. The Koreans, in turn, are interested in their workers learning our skills. I was specifically told, ‘Pyongyang was built by builders who worked for you in Moscow and Novosibirsk.’ They acquired skills and technologies that they applied back home.”
— Anatoly Evgenievich, to sum it up: what, in your opinion, are the prospects for the development of Russian-Korean relations?
— The conclusion is clear: these relations have a very good future. The statement by the DPRK leader that Russia is an ally and that they are ready, if necessary, to participate in military operations on our side speaks for itself. The DPRK is a reliable ally. They have already experienced the total sanctions and blockade that we are now experiencing. They survived, developed nuclear weapons and modern technology. And if we look back, who remains with us? Our loyal allies today are the DPRK and Belarus. These are our true friends. We already have cooperation in the military-technical sphere; we use their products in the military-military war, and they continue to assist us. Plans must be made with such reliable allies in mind.