The Russian government has donated an unspecified number of fire engines to North Korea and a ceremony was held to commemorate the occasion, NK News reported, citing local media.
In attendance were North Korean Deputy Prime Minister Ro Tu Chol, Deputy Foreign Minister Kung Sok Ung and Deputy People's Security Minister Kim Sung Bom, Korea Central News Agency reported Monday, according to NK News.
Several Russian officials were also at the ceremony, including Yury Trutnev, deputy prime minister and presidential envoy to the Far East Federal District, and the Russian Ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Timonin.
The speakers at the ceremony said that the handover of the fire engines signified the warm sincerity and friendship of the Russian people and that they would play a big role in ensuring the safety of the Korean people, the report said.
The donation was made upon Trutnev's arrival in Pyongyang for a three-day visit to discuss economic cooperation between the two countries.
The gesture provides further indication that ties between the two countries are on an upward curve.
Earlier this month Russia's parliament agreed to write off about $10 billion of North Korea's Soviet-era debt in a deal expected to pave the way for the construction of a gas pipeline traversing the country and finishing in South Korea.
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