"North Korea and Russia push for cooperation in strengthening surveillance and repression of their citizens"

Amid the acceleration of Russia's close ties with North Korea, a U.S. think tank has analyzed that the two countries appear to be cooperating in strengthening control and surveillance of their citizens.

ISW, a Washington-based think tank, interpreted the agreement signed by North Korea and Russia in the field of digital communication in a report on the war in Ukraine published on the 31st local time.

On the 30th of last month, North Korea's Ministry of Information and Industry signed a cooperation agreement with Russia's Ministry of Digital Development and Communication and Media in the fields of information technology, communication, and digital development.

"This is likely aimed at strengthening the Kremlin's digital authoritarian tools to suppress the country," the war thinktank said.

The agreement between North Korea and Russian law enforcement is also likely part of the Kremlin's efforts to increase the means of domestic control and strengthen control of the information space in Russia, including messaging platforms, he added.

Earlier, Russian Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov visited North Korea in July and signed an agreement to expand cooperation between the two law enforcement agencies.