North Korean official drowns in Russian swimming pond

The BAZA news outlet, which often publishes information from sources in the security services and law enforcement, said that the official, Kim Geum-chol, died on July 11 in a public swimming pond in Zelenograd, a city some 37km (23 miles) northwest of Moscow.

North Korea’s state KCNA news agency reported earlier this month that a North Korean elite military training delegation had departed by plane to Russia on July 8, the first military exchange between the two countries since their leaders signed a pact pledging closer military cooperation.

The North Korean embassy in Moscow on Wednesday did not immediately respond to a request to confirm Kim’s death and identity. Moscow police, who have not commented on the incident publicly, were checking the circumstances of what happened, the SHOT Telegram channel reported separately.

Both BAZA and SHOT described the dead man as having been on an official visit and as having stayed at the North Korean embassy in Moscow. Neither made mention of any military education links, saying only that he had worked in the agriculture sector.

BAZA said Kim had travelled, accompanied by an interpreter, to the Bolshoi Gorodskoi (Big City) pond in Zelenograd to cool off from the scorching summer heat.

The two countries’ military ties concern officials in Seoul and Washington, who say there is evidence of weapons shipments by the North to Russia for use against Ukraine. Pyongyang and Moscow deny such transactions.