Iran, N.Korea agree to cooperate in science, technology

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iran and North Korea have signed an agreement to cooperate in science and technology, Iranian media reported yesterday, and Iran’s supreme leader declared that the two countries had “common enemies.”

The two countries will cooperate in research, student exchanges and joint laboratories, and in the fields of information technology, engineering, biotechnology, renewable energy, the environment, sustainable development of agriculture and food technology, the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA) reported.

ILNA said the agreement was signed by Iran’s Minister for Science, Research, and Technology Farhad Daneshjoo and North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun.

North Korea has had close ties with Iran. Leaked US diplomatic cables from 2010 showed that US officials believe Iran has acquired ballistic missile parts from North Korea.