North Korea ratified a defense treaty with Russia on Monday, further strengthening the two countries’ military alliance. The ratification is believed to be the conclusion of the agreement Russia and North Korea agreed to in June.
The announcement comes as thousands of North Korean troops have been sighted in Russia and are believed to be on the brink of entering the Russia-Ukraine war on behalf of Russia, particularly in the Kursk region. North Korea’s state media announced the ratification on Tuesday.
The “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation” was initially signed between the two countries on June 19. Russia’s State Duma and the Federation Council of Russia adopted the treaty and approved its ratification, according to reports. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the bill, which ratified the treaty in his country.
“The treaty will take effect from the day when both sides exchanged the ratification instruments,” North Korean state media reported. North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un signed the ratification by decree on Nov. 11.
The newly ratified military agreement between the two countries mandates that North Korea and Russia assist each other by “all available means” and immediately provide military assistance in a scenario in which either country is attacked, according to the Associated Press. Additionally, both countries have agreed to cooperate to establish a “just and multipolar new world order,” which would challenge the hegemony of the United States.
“In case any one of the two sides is put in a state of war by an armed invasion from an individual state or several states, the other side shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay,” North Korean state media reported in June.
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The agreement also requires both countries to work bilaterally in several areas, including space, trade, food supply, economy, and atomic energy. Many experts believe this means Russia will share its nuclear technology with North Korea to help strengthen the country’s nuclear weapons and arsenal.
It is suspected this is the impetus for North Korea deploying its troops to Russia to assist in its war with Ukraine.
