Russia and North Korea have reached a new agreement requiring immediate military assistance in the event of war, as reported by North Korean state media on Thursday. The agreement, announced after a summit between North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin, marks a significant upgrade in bilateral relations encompassing security, trade, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) detailed that the agreement includes a clause mandating that if either country is invaded and enters a state of war, the other must deploy "all means at its disposal without delay" to provide military and other assistance. This move has raised concerns among the US and its allies about a potential arms deal where North Korea supplies Russia with munitions for its war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic aid and technology transfers.
South Korean officials are currently assessing the treaty's implications, expressing regret over its military and technological cooperation that violates UN Security Council resolutions. Lim Soosuk, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stated that South Korea would coordinate with the international community to respond decisively to any threats to regional security.
The Pyongyang summit, marked by Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years, showcased the strong ties between the two leaders. The agreement also promotes cooperation to establish a “just and multipolar new world order,” aligning the two nations against the United States, amidst increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a cycle of provocations and military exercises.
The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) detailed that the agreement includes a clause mandating that if either country is invaded and enters a state of war, the other must deploy "all means at its disposal without delay" to provide military and other assistance. This move has raised concerns among the US and its allies about a potential arms deal where North Korea supplies Russia with munitions for its war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic aid and technology transfers.
South Korean officials are currently assessing the treaty's implications, expressing regret over its military and technological cooperation that violates UN Security Council resolutions. Lim Soosuk, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, stated that South Korea would coordinate with the international community to respond decisively to any threats to regional security.
The Pyongyang summit, marked by Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years, showcased the strong ties between the two leaders. The agreement also promotes cooperation to establish a “just and multipolar new world order,” aligning the two nations against the United States, amidst increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and a cycle of provocations and military exercises.
