Russian President Vladimir Putin recently celebrated the “unprecedentedly high level” of relations between Russia and North Korea, marking his first visit to the country in 24 years.
The visit, which took place between June 19 and 20, culminated in the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement which specifically highlights grounds for military support should either country face external threats.
Yury Ushakov, a top Russian foreign policy aide, attempted to downplay the military component of the agreement but ultimately conceded, “[I]t sets forth guidelines … in particular, in the sphere of security, which does not rule out, as was commented by our president, the possibility of military-technical cooperation.”
The agreement includes a mutual defense treaty, reviving a military alliance reminiscent of the 1961 pact between the Soviet Union and North Korea.
South Korea has been on high alert since the signing of this agreement. The Korean War ended in 1953 with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving Seoul in fear that Russia might become more involved in North Korean military activities. South Korean officials have suggested that they could consider sending weapons to Ukraine, a move Putin has warned would be a “very big mistake.”
Ushakov further suggested that Russia would leverage its influence at the United Nations to advocate for lifting sanctions on North Korea. These sanctions, imposed by the UN Security Council in 2017 due to North Korea’s nuclear tests, are among the strictest ever. Despite no new nuclear tests since 2017, reports indicate that North Korea has expanded its nuclear arsenal significantly.
The ongoing tension highlights the fragile state of relations in the Korean Peninsula and the broader geopolitical implications of the Russia-North Korea alliance. As both nations navigate these complex dynamics, the international community watches closely, concerned about the potential for increased military cooperation, especially as Putin and Kim Jung Un continue to extend the invitation to visit the other’s respective countries.
