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British Council signs MOU with DPRK Cultural Committee

As trailed at the launch of the current photographic exhibition at the British Council, a memorandum of understanding has now been signed between the Council and the DPRK’s Cultural Committee. Not quite the ministerial level MOU that is in place between the UK and the ROK, but still a significant step.

British Council forges new UK/North Korea cultural ties

Tuesday 15 July 2014

British Council logoCloser cultural links between the UK and North Korea are possible, following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the British Council and the DPRK Cultural Committee.

The agreement paves the way for activities including exchange visits, study tours, courses, collaboration to produce teaching materials, and sporting events.

The MoU was signed by Sir Martin Davidson, Chief Executive of the British Council, and Kim Jin Bom, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Cultural Relations with Foreign Countries of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, at a ceremony in London on 14 July.

Sir Martin Davidson said: “When you have two countries who know so little about each other, you have to find ways to build connections. The language of culture is a great way to do that. I am very pleased to have been able to sign this agreement with North Korea. We believe it will help build greater trust and understanding between our two countries.”

The British Council and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have been running a training programme for English teachers in North Korea since 2000, which was recently extended until 2017. The British Council’s Director of Visual Arts, Andrea Rose, visited North Korea in 2013 with a photographer and writer, resulting in an exhibition of photography from inside the country, which is currently on display at the British Council’s London headquarters.

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