Kim Jong Un ratifies military pact with Putin, unsettling allies
Kim Jong Un signed a decree ratifying the strategic partnership treaty with Russia, which binds both nations to provide mutual military assistance. The agreement clarifies the implications for their armed forces if one faces an attack.
12 November 2024 06:19
Russia is bolstering its relationships with North Korea. In June, in Pyongyang, the leaders of both countries, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un, signed the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the DPRK and Russia." The North Korean leader ratified the deal with Russia on November 11. The Russian State Duma and the Federation Council had previously approved the bill on ratifying this agreement, and Putin's signature formalized it.
The treaty between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation includes a commitment from both sides to provide mutual military assistance if their sovereignty is threatened. A key component of the agreement is support during military conflicts. This commitment implies that if one of these nations faces a military attack, the other promises to offer active support, potentially altering the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
The world is watching closely as Russia and North Korea strengthen their ties. South Korea, Ukraine, and Western countries have already voiced concerns about the deepening military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. According to intelligence reports, these countries believe that North Korea may have sent approximately 10,000 soldiers to Russia to aid its military operations in Ukraine. Reports suggest that soldiers from Kim Jong Un’s regime were deployed to the Kursk region at the beginning of November.
Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia could impact international power dynamics. International organizations and countries involved in maintaining stability in Asia must now reconsider their strategies to address this potential threat to peace in the region.
