Putin and Kim Jong-un signed a new treaty containing a mutual defense clause

Photo: Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un

Against the backdrop of worsening confrontation with the West, the heads of Russia and the DPRK – Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un – signed on Wednesday, June 19, a new partnership agreement, including an agreement on mutual assistance, in case one of these countries faces “aggression”.

The two leaders called it a “significant improvement in relations covering security, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties.” Putin added that he “does not rule out developing military-technical cooperation with North Korea within the framework of this deal,” the Associated Press reported.

The meeting between the two dictators took place during Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years.

North Korea and the former Soviet Union signed a treaty in 1961, which experts say provided for Moscow's military intervention in the event of an attack on North Korea. After the collapse of the USSR, the treaty was terminated and was replaced in 2000 by a pact that offered weaker security guarantees. It is not yet clear whether the new treaty provides the same guarantees as the 1961 treaty.

Both Pyongyang and Moscow deny allegations of arms transfers that would violate numerous UN Security Council sanctions that Russia has previously supported.

Along with China, Russia has repeatedly blocked UN efforts to impose new sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear weapons tests. In March, Russia vetoed the UN, ending monitoring of sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear program, prompting Western accusations that Moscow was seeking to avoid oversight by buying weapons from Pyongyang.

Kim Jong Ng promised to fully support Russia's war in Ukraine.

After his visit to North Korea, Putin should head to Vietnam.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian believes that high-level exchanges between Moscow and Pyongyang are “bilateral agreements between two sovereign states.”

Prepared by: Sergey Daga