The Russian president, Vladimir Putinsigned a mutual defense agreement with the North Korean on Wednesday Kim Jong-unwho offered him his “full support” in Ukraine.
The commitment to military cooperation was part of a strategic treaty signed during a summit in Pyongyangwhere Putin made his visit in 24 years.
“It is truly an innovative document“Putin said at a press conference in the North Korean capital, adding that he anticipated, “among other things, themutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties of this treaty,” Russian news agencies reported.
The two countries have been allies since the founding of North Korea after World War II, and have grown even closer after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 will isolate Putin on the world stage.
The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of supplying ammunition and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and the treaty is sure to fuel concerns of more handovers.
Putin also said that Russia “does not rule out military-technical cooperation with the DPRK in relation to the treaty that has been signed todayand”, referring to the North by its official name.
Kim called Putin a “dear friend of the Korean people.”” and said that his country “expresses “its full support and solidarity with the Russian government” for the war in Ukrainewhich has triggered a series of UN sanctions against Moscow.
Putin, for his part, thanked his host Kim – himself subject to a UN sanctions regime for a decade for his banned weapons programs – and He said Moscow appreciated his “constant and unwavering” support.
Putin stated that the two countries, heavily sanctioned, They would not tolerate Western “blackmail” and that UN sanctions on North Korea should be reviewed.
“I point out that the indefinite restrictive regime inspired by the US and its allies in the UN Security Council towards the DPRK must be reviewed”Putin said.
Putin arrived in Pyongyang before dawn on Wednesday to be received by Kim on a red carpet where they both hugged and smiled.
They then attended a cwelcome ceremony at Kim Il Sung Squarein which a military band performed and there were massive synchronized dances, after which Putin invited his host to visit Moscow.
The summit, which included a long one-on-one talk between the leaders, was their second meeting in a year.
The Russian leader traveled with his chancellor, Sergei Lavrov; and the Minister of Defense, Andrei Belousov.
Putin, who is the subject of a warrant of the International Criminal Courthas reduced his trips abroad, but has made some trips to visit key allies, such as China.
Last September, Kim traveled on his armored train to the far east of Russia to hold a summit with Putin at a spaceport.
The two Koreas remain technically at war since their 1950-53 conflict and the border that divides them is one of the most fortified in the world.
This week’s visit was a way for Putin to thank the North “for acting as an ‘arsenal for autocracy’ in support of its illegal invasion of Ukraine“, said Leif-Eric Easleyprofessor at Ewha University in Seoul.
Kim Sung-baesenior researcher at the Seoul-based Institute for National Security Strategy, told the AFP that the operation is also part of Russia’s intention to secure a “strategic space” in northeast Asia to counter the influence of the United States in the region.
“This intention is even more evident with Putin’s visit to Vietnam”he added, since the Russian leader plans to fly to Hanoi after his trip to the North.
“Russia needs North Korea’s support for weapons due to the prolonged war in Ukraine, while North Korea needs Russia’s support for food.energy and cutting-edge weapons to relieve pressure from sanctions,” he added. Koh Yu-hwanprofessor emeritus of North Korean studies at Dongguk University.
The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kulebaurged the international community to counter the “friendship” between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by increasing arms shipments to kyiv.
“The best way to respond is to continue strengthening the diplomatic coalition for a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and deliver more […] ammunition to Ukraine,” Kuleba said.
In March, Russia used its veto power in the Security Council of the UN to put an end to the system of monitoring the sanctions imposed on North Korea, established mainly by the nuclear program from Pyongyang.
A few hours before Putin’s arrival in Pyongyang, Dozens of North Korean soldiers briefly crossed the fortified border with South Koreabut they retreated quickly before warning shotsan act that Seoul’s military commanders believe was accidental.
South Korea indicated that it followed “closely the preparations” for Putin’s visit.
Seoul provided significant military aid to Ukraine and participates in Western sanctions against Moscow. The South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeolvisited kyiv last year.
(With information from agencies)
