The top labour unions of North Korea and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on friendship and cooperation during talks in Pyongyang on Tuesday, North Korean state media reported. Ri Won-jong, head of North Korea's General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea, and Sergei Chernogayev, head of Russia's Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Russia (which represents around 19 million workers), formalised the agreement to expand bilateral labour ties. The deal reflects the deepening alignment between the two countries since North Korea deployed troops to support Russia's war in Ukraine, a partnership through which Russia has in turn supplied Pyongyang with military technology and resources.