North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yongho (fourth from right) talks with Zandaakhuu Enkhbold (third from left), head of the presidential secretariat of Mongolia at the Mansudae Assembly Hall in this August file photo. KCNA-Yonhap

By Jung Da-min

North Korea is strengthening its ties with Mongolia, with Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga's inviting Chairman Kim Jong-un to visit the country to mark the 70th anniversary of North Korea-Mongolia diplomatic relations.

North Korea's state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported Sunday that Kim received the invitation last week. KCNA also reported that a delegation of the Mongolian Food, Agriculture and Environment Workers Trade Unions headed by President Gantuya Ochirjantsan arrived in North Korea, Sunday.

Diplomatic relations between North Korea and Mongolia have strengthened in recent years, with trade volume between the countries rising steadily.

In particular, Mongolia's exports to North Korea jumped 55 percent last year compared to the previous year, according to the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency's January report citing the statistics of Mongolian Customs.

North Korea strengthens regional ties on Workers' Party foundation anniversary 2018-10-18 16:28  |  North Korea
In 2017 until November, Mongolia exported goods worth about $1.92 million to North Korea, while importing goods worth $370,000 from the North ― up 2 percent from the previous year.

Total trade volume was up 43 percent year-on-year at $2.29 million last year.

North Korea's party mouthpiece Rodong Sinmun's Monday edition published an article that elaborates on Mongolia's economy, while also publishing KCNA reports of the Mongolian President's invitation to Kim and the Mongolian delegation's visit to Pyongyang.

The newspaper highlighted Mongolia's livestock industry, mining, tourism, forestation projects and natural-based electricity project.