SEOUL, South Korea — Russia and North Korea have signed a new treaty providing mutual defense assistance, formalizing the two countries' level of military and diplomatic cooperation.
President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty following their summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday.
President Putin said at a press conference after the meeting: said The agreement “includes provisions for mutual assistance in the event of an attack on one of the signatories.”
North Korea previously had an alliance treaty with the Soviet Union that stipulated automatic intervention if either country attacked. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, a low-level treaty with Russia was signed in 2000.
Putin called the new treaty, which replaces the previous one, “a truly groundbreaking document that reflects the aspirations of both countries to raise their relations to a new qualitative level without resting on their laurels.” He added, “We set large-scale tasks and standards to deepen Korea-Russia relations in the long term.”
Chairman Kim and President Putin emphasized that the new agreement is “defensive” in nature.
Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years comes as the two countries have grown closer over the past few years following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. North Korea is suspected of providing Russia with millions of artillery shells and other weapons for use in Ukraine in return for food, energy and military technology.
The full scope of the treaty and other agreements signed Wednesday has not been made public. And some North Korea observers are questioning the sustainability of the current relationship between the two countries.
But the United States and its allies have raised concerns that an expansion of the military partnership would embolden the two ostracized countries and destabilize the region and beyond.
In Washington on Tuesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said after a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken that Russia's war is being “supported” by countries such as North Korea and China. “If they succeed in Ukraine, we will become more vulnerable and the world more dangerous,” he said.
Chairman Kim met President Putin in person on the red-carpeted runway of Pyongyang International Airport well after 2 a.m. on Wednesday, showing off their close friendship. Putin was originally scheduled to arrive on Tuesday for a two-day visit.
After hugging and a brief conversation, the two rode together in a Russian-made Aurus sedan along the streets of the capital to the Kumsusan Guesthouse, where Russian flags and welcome flags were waving.
North Korea held a grand welcome ceremony at Kim Il-sung Square this afternoon, filled with a military band, honor guard, and North Korean residents waving flowers and flags in the sweltering heat.
At the subsequent expanded meeting, Chairman Kim Jong-un said, “The current world situation is becoming increasingly difficult and changing rapidly. Against this background, we agree to strengthen strategic interaction with Russia in the future together with the Russian leadership.” According to Russia's TASS news agency.
Chairman Kim also reportedly said, “I highly value the important mission and role of a strong Russia in maintaining strategic stability and balance in the world.”
He also promised “full support and solidarity with the Russian government, army and people in carrying out special military operations in Ukraine to protect its sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity,” according to Sputnik.
Putin thanked Chairman Kim for North Korea's support of the war and emphasized the historical camaraderie between the two countries from the early 20th century to the current opposition to “the hegemonic policies and imperialist politics of the United States and its satellites,” TASS reported. I did.
At a later press conference, President Putin criticized the United States' 'policy of confrontation' in the region and defended North Korea against 'all attempts to shift responsibility for the instability of the international situation to the host country.' He urged the UN Security Council to consider sanctions against North Korea.
He also suggested that the two countries could engage in advanced military and technological cooperation, in addition to expanding exchanges in trade, culture, tourism, education and agriculture.