Russia and North Korea are pursuing increased cooperation in the judicial sphere. Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov arrived in Pyongyang, North Korea and met with his North Korean counterpart Kim Chol Won on July 22, marking the first time that a Russian Prosecutor General has visited North Korea. Krasnov and Kim reportedly discussed avenues for continued cooperation and signed an agreement for joint work between the Russian and North Korean prosecutor generals’ offices for 2024–2026. The Russian and North Korean prosecutor general’s offices have notably maintained dialogue since 2010 through a separate cooperation agreement, but the new agreement will likely be much more focused in scope, reflecting intensified Russo–North Korean cooperation over the past year. Krasnov emphasized the importance of “establishing a regular exchange of legislative acts” between Russia and North Korea and noted that Russia is ready to share its own experience in developing judicial practice with North Korea while also learning about North Korean judicial practice, particularly in the spheres of communication and information technology. Both countries have pursued increased military, political, diplomatic, and economic cooperation over the past year, as ISW has reported, but the apparent desire to align judicial and prosecutorial agendas is particularly noteworthy. ISW previously noted that the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office weaponizes administrative laws to strengthen the judicial system’s control over Russian society, and Krasnov’s recent foreign engagements (including with Iraqi and Central African Republic officials) likely aim in part to share such judicial control and law enforcement tactics with friendly states in exchange for increasing Russia’s own arsenal of domestic control methods. Russia’s interest in North Korean judicial expertise in communications and information technologies is likely a reflection of the Kremlin’s desire to consolidate control over the Russian information space, including via messaging platforms and virtual private network (VPN) services.
Key Takeaways:
- Russia and North Korea are pursuing increased cooperation in the judicial sphere.
- Russia is taking steps to codify terms broadly expanding the Russian official definition of prosecutable extremism as part of its ongoing effort to criminally prosecute and stymie domestic opposition to the Kremlin and its war in Ukraine.
- Kursk Oblast officials appointed a critical Russian milblogger to an advisory role within the regional government, likely as part of wider Kremlin efforts to appease critical commentators by granting them certain reputational concessions in exchange for their increased informational loyalty.
- Ukrainian forces conducted drone strikes against Russian oil infrastructure in Krasnodar Krai and a military air base in Rostov Oblast on July 22.
- Georgian authorities reportedly placed roughly 300 Georgian citizens who have served as volunteers in the Georgian Legion alongside Ukrainian forces on Georgia’s wanted list.
- Russian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, Siversk, Toretsk, and Donetsk City.
For full report: https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-july-22-2024