North Korea has officially ratified a significant defense agreement with Russia, as reported by state media on Tuesday. This move signifies a deepening of security collaboration between the two nations, which were once Communist allies during the Cold War. The pact formalizes the growing military ties that have seen Pyongyang dispatch thousands of troops to support Moscow's efforts in Ukraine.
Seoul and its ally, the United States, have alleged that North Korea has sent thousands of soldiers to Russia, where they have been equipped with Russian uniforms and are reportedly positioned near the border with Ukraine. The agreement was ratified by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).
This development follows the unanimous approval of the deal by Russian lawmakers last week, which was subsequently signed by President Vladimir Putin. The treaty will become effective once both nations have exchanged their ratification instruments, KCNA stated.
North Korea has emerged as one of the most vocal and crucial supporters of Russia's military campaign in Ukraine. Western nations have long accused Pyongyang of supplying Moscow with artillery shells and missiles for use in Ukraine, a charge that has intensified with recent reports of thousands of North Korean troops being prepared for combat.
The strategic partnership treaty, signed by Putin and Kim in June during the Kremlin chief's visit to North Korea, mandates both states to provide military aid 'without delay' in the event of an attack and to collaborate internationally against Western sanctions. Putin described the deal as a 'breakthrough document' at the time.
Analysts believe that with bilateral ratifications, Pyongyang and Moscow will assert the legitimacy of North Korea's military deployment to Russia, citing the ratified treaty. This could pave the way for further, potentially larger deployments of North Korean manpower to Russia in the future.
North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui recently visited Moscow, where she expressed her country's unwavering support for Russia, calling Moscow's offensive against Ukraine a 'sacred struggle' and praising Putin's 'wise leadership'. Intelligence reports from South Korea, Ukraine, and the United States suggest that around 10,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia to fight against Ukraine.
When questioned publicly about the deployment last month, Putin did not deny the reports, instead criticizing the West's support for Ukraine. There are concerns in the West that in exchange for sending troops, Russia may be providing North Korea with technological support that could advance Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program. North Korea has recently conducted a series of ballistic missile tests, including a new solid-fuel ICBM.
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