📷 Image Credits: Al Jazeera English
In a historic move, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have signed a new strategic partnership agreement during Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years. This partnership includes a mutual defense pact that signifies a significant upgrade in their relationship. The agreement, which also covers security, trade, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties, is a landmark event that could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War. The text of the pact reveals that both countries have pledged to provide immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.
The new defense pact is seen as a revival of the 1961 Cold War-era mutual defense pledge between Russia and North Korea. The agreement lays out a framework for the provision of mutual aid with all available means in the event of armed aggression. This clause in the treaty raises questions about the extent of Russia’s nuclear deterrent extending to North Korea and the possibility of joint military drills between the two nations. Putin and Kim both emphasized the significance of this alliance, with Kim calling it a ‘watershed moment’ in their bilateral relations.
Analysts have noted that the defense clause in the agreement resembles a formal defense treaty rather than a mere partnership agreement. The automatic intervention clause outlined in the treaty would mobilize all military assets, including the army, navy, and air force, in the event of an attack. The deepening alignment between Russia and North Korea in the face of international isolation over Moscow’s war in Ukraine and Pyongyang’s nuclear program is a cause for concern among Western observers.
While both countries have denied North Korean arms exports, there is substantial evidence indicating military aid from North Korea to Russia’s war effort. The pact signifies a new level of cooperation between the two nations, with Putin hinting at possible military-technical cooperation with North Korea. This has raised concerns about advancements in North Korea’s military capabilities, including nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. The partnership between Russia and North Korea is a significant development that could have far-reaching implications on the global stage.
