{"id":2466323,"date":"2025-07-24T16:19:02","date_gmt":"2025-07-24T20:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russian-children-arrive-in-north-korea-for-friendship-camp\/"},"modified":"2025-07-24T16:23:33","modified_gmt":"2025-07-24T20:23:33","slug":"russian-children-arrive-in-north-korea-for-friendship-camp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/russian-children-arrive-in-north-korea-for-friendship-camp\/","title":{"rendered":"Russian children arrive in North Korea for &#8216;friendship camp&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Frussian-children-arrive-in-north-korea-for-friendship-camp%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2466323&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>North Korea recently hosted an international &#8220;friendship camp&#8221; in Songdowon, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-prepares-to-sign-order-advancing-lgbt-initiatives\/\" title=\"Biden Prepares to Sign Order Advancing LGBT Initiatives\">welcoming hundreds<\/a> of Russian children as part of efforts to strengthen ties between the two countries. The camp, which opened with a ceremony attended by North Korean officials and featured fireworks, music, and a march-past, will run for 10 days near the city of Wonsan. Songdowon International Children&#8217;s Camp has a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/photo-evidence-dominion-voting-machines-have-made-in-china-labels\/\" title=\"PHOTO EVIDENCE: Dominion Voting Machines Have \u201cMade in China\u201d Labels\">long history<\/a> of hosting youth exchanges, originally focusing on fellow communist nations, and was reopened in 2014 to allow children from various countries to experience North Korean culture. This year&#8217;s program includes themed days such as North Korea Day, Russia Day, and a Friendship of Peoples Evening. Russian participants were selected through a <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >state-sponsored essay contest<\/a>, emphasizing cultural exchange and Russia&#8217;s role in a multipolar world.The camp reflects ongoing cooperation between North Korea and Russia amid broader geopolitical developments.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Russian children arrive in North Korea for &lsquo;friendship camp&rsquo; in Songdowon<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2179464\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">North Korea<\/a> welcomed hundreds of Russian students to an international &ldquo;friendship camp&rdquo; this week, the latest joint effort to strengthen <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3469483\/russia-warns-us-and-allies-against-building-alliances-targeting-north-korea\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">ties between the two rogue states<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The international exchange program, which began with an opening ceremony on Wednesday at the Songdowon International Children&rsquo;s Camp, was touted as a triumph in the North Korean press.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3480916\/us-approves-sale-322-million-dollar-ukraine-weapons-package\/\">US approves sale of $322 million Ukraine weapons package<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3481291\/steve-witkoff-ends-doha-ceasefire-talks-early-selfish-hamas-proposal\/\">Steve Witkoff ends Doha ceasefire talks early after &#8216;selfish&#8217; Hamas proposal<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3480170\/france-more-naps-public-need-work-more\/\">France suggests taking more naps despite telling public they need to &#8216;work more&#8217;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;Present at the ceremony were Kim Song Il, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the Socialist Patriotic Youth League, officials concerned, and campers,&rdquo; a terse dispatch from state-run outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/kcnawatch.org\/newstream\/1753351385-454380520\/dprk-russia-children%e2%80%99s-friendship-camping-begins\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Korea Central News Agency<\/em><\/a>  said. &ldquo;A camping flag was hoisted at the ceremony.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Russian and North Korean students gather for the Songdowon International Children&rsquo;s Camp opening ceremony near Wonsan on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/supreme-court-gives-cities-more-power-to-ban-homeless-camps-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Supreme Court gives cities more power to ban homeless ...s - Washington Examiner\">nation&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s east coast. The 10-day camp is being celebrated by North Korean state-run media as a valuable opportunity &ldquo;amid the interests of the peoples of the two countries.&rdquo; (Photo: Korea Central News Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Colourful fireworks were displayed in the sky above Songdowon and there were a ceremony of a schoolchildren&rsquo;s brass band and a small drum group and the march-past of campers,&rdquo; <em>KCNA<\/em> reported.<\/p>\n<p>Camp Songdowon, located just outside the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3475557\/north-korea-beach-resort-bans-foreigners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">wealthy city of Wonsan<\/a> on the nation&rsquo;s east coast, is expected to run for 10 days. <\/p>\n<p>The site has hosted international youth groups for cross-cultural camps since the 1960s, when it was used to build relations with fellow Communist nations.<\/p>\n<p>It was reopened in 2014 as a prestigious opportunity for the children of well-connected regime members to gain exposure to foreign cultures.<\/p>\n<p>Scheduled activities this year reportedly include a North Korea Day, a Russia Day, and a Friendship of Peoples Evening.<\/p>\n<p>The regional government of Primorsky in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/russia\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">Russia<\/a> celebrated the camp on the social media platform Telegram, saying children can expect a &ldquo;busy, exciting program.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;They will be involved in activities strengthening the ties between the two countries,&rdquo; the government&rsquo;s account wrote alongside photos of Russian children arriving at the airport in North Korea. &ldquo;They will be ambassadors and show the North Korean children Russian culture in all its glory.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Songdowan has hosted international exchange students for decades, initially focusing on cross-cultural opportunities with children from fellow communist nations. The camp was reestablished in 2014 as an open opportunity for students from around the world to visit and learn about North Korea. (Photo: Korea Central News Agency)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The children participating in the camp were chosen from a pool of candidates who entered a state-sponsored essay contest, according to independent Russian news outlet <a href=\"https:\/\/novayagazeta.eu\/articles\/2024\/07\/22\/russian-school-children-begin-summer-camp-in-north-korea-amid-ever-closed-ties-en-news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\"><em>Novaya Gazeta<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Applicants chose from preselected topics such as what they would like to learn about North Korea, what they would like to teach North Koreans about Russia, and Russia&rsquo;s role in a multipolar world.<\/p>\n<p>The camp is not far from North Korea&rsquo;s first international resort, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/vacations\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Wonsan-Kalma Coastal Tourist Area<\/a>, which held its grand opening earlier this month.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/3475557\/north-korea-beach-resort-bans-foreigners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" title=\"\">NORTH KOREA BANS FOREIGNERS FROM BEACH RESORT AFTER FIRST ROUND OF RUSSIAN TOURISTS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Approximately a week after accepting its first round of Russian visitors, the resort announced it would suspend foreign tourists&rsquo; access indefinitely.<\/p>\n<p>No reason for the sudden change in policy was announced, but banning international visitors could threaten the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/north-korea-has-a-seemingly-harmless-plan-to-get-ahead-but-theres-a-dark-truth-behind-it-report\/\" title=\"Dark truth behind ...&#039;s seemingly harmless plan revealed: Report\">long-term financial viability<\/a> of the resort, which boasts restaurants, water parks, shopping districts, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_2179464\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"2179464\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Russian kids attend friendship camp in North Korea&#8217;s Songdowon<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3468,"featured_media":2466324,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/North-Korea-Friendship-Camp-2.webp","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[4294,59833,32402,32109,4280],"class_list":["post-2466323","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-children","tag-friendship-camp","tag-international-relations","tag-north-korea","tag-russia"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/North-Korea-Friendship-Camp-2.webp","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466323","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3468"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2466323"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466323\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2466327,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2466323\/revisions\/2466327"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2466324"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2466323"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2466323"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2466323"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}