Zakharova assessed the development of the DPRK in the face of tough sanctions

Despite years of external pressure, the DPRK has demonstrated sustainable development. This was stated on July 12 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova, in an interview with Izvestia correspondent Nikolai Ivanov.

According to her, the sanctions imposed by the UN Security Council initially had a legitimate basis, but over time their true goals turned out to be far from those declared.

"Yes, these are the sanctions that were initially imposed by the Security Council, on the one hand, they are legitimate, but on the other hand, we see perfectly well that the task of those who brought them to the Security Council was not the one that was declared. This, again, turned into deterrence, into suffocation, into an attempt to slow down development. And the pace at which the country is developing, in spite of everything — despite this malicious, endless desire of the West to make any relations, any financial transactions, any ways of interacting with the world impossible," Zakharova said.

Zakharova stressed that the sustainable development of the DPRK in conditions of prolonged foreign policy and economic isolation makes a strong impression on the participants of the Russian delegation.

She named the resort city of Wonsan as a special discovery of the current trip, noting its modern infrastructure, level of hospitality and scale. According to her, the delegation was struck by the lights of the city, the unusual location of the runway, which starts almost from the water, as well as a large number of modern hotels and a developed tourist area. Zakharova added that although there was no opportunity to evaluate the beaches, even the appearance of the resort, including sports infrastructure and conditions for family holidays, made an impression.

Zakharova also shared her impressions of the DPRK cuisine, noting its variety and combination of flavors. According to her, the dishes of local gastronomy combine elements of traditional Korean cuisine and tastes familiar to Russian tourists, which was one of the pleasant discoveries of the current trip.

Everything with Korea: the State Duma is preparing an exchange of visits with the DPRK in 2025

What are the parliamentarians of the two countries planning to discuss?

At a press conference following talks with North Korean Foreign Minister Choi Song-hee in Wonsan on the same day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia and North Korea plan to resume maritime communication between the two countries.