The photo shows North Korean Vice Sports Minister O Kwang-hyok, right, and Aleksandr Matsegora, Russian ambassador to North Korea. Yonhap

North Korea and Russia have signed a protocol on sports exchanges, a news report said, as Pyongyang and Moscow have been expanding bilateral cooperation.

The two countries signed the protocol following discussions between Russian Sports Minister Oleg Matytsin and North Korean Vice Sports Minister O Kwang-hyok on Wednesday, Russia's state-run TASS said, citing the country's sports ministry.

The protocol includes seminars, training courses and participation in training events in rhythmic gymnastics, soccer, synchronized swimming, figure skating, taekwondo, wrestling, boxing, volleyball, basketball, canoeing, weightlifting, judo, table tennis and other kinds of sports, according to the report.

During their meeting, Russia also invited North Korean athletes to take part in the BRICS Games and the World Friendship Games to be held in Russia later this year, it added.

North Korea and Russia have expanded the scope of their cooperation following the summit between the North's leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin in September last year.

Pyongyang is suspected of having provided artillery and munitions to Russia for use in Moscow's war in Ukraine in exchange for Russia's potential transfer of weapons technology. (Yonhap)