A delegation from North Korea’s environmental agency visited Land of the Leopard National Park in Primorye. The sides expressed interest in joint research and sharing expertise.
On October 6, 2026, the Land of the Leopard National Park directorate reported a visit to Russia’s Primorye region by a North Korean conservation delegation. The specialists expressed interest in working with Russian counterparts on the Amur tiger and Far Eastern leopard. The delegation spent three days in the region.
The visitors showed interest in Russian experience with camera traps and individual animal identification. They also raised the possibility of research in North Korea and discussions on joint scientific programmes. Kim Gwang Ho, a department head in the North Korean environmental agency, said specialists intended to develop cooperation with Russian colleagues.
The delegation visited protected areas in the Far Eastern leopard’s range, including Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve. The trip was supported by Russia’s Natural Resources Ministry as part of preparations for the second meeting of a bilateral environmental subcommission.
The Far Eastern leopard is among the world’s rarest big cats. Its core population lives in Primorye, with a small part of its range in China near the Russian border. Some animals have also been recorded near North Korea. The sides have expressed interest in joint research, but no joint programme has been announced.