On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a significant agreement with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, which includes a mutual defence pledge, marking one of Russia’s most consequential moves in Asia in recent years. Kim described the agreement as an “alliance.”
Putin’s pledge represents a significant shift in Russia’s post-Soviet policy on North Korea, just as the United States and its Asian allies are evaluating the extent of Russia’s support for the only nation to have tested a nuclear weapon in this century. During his first visit to Pyongyang since July 2000, Putin explicitly linked the strengthening of ties with North Korea to the West’s increasing support for Ukraine, indicating that Moscow might develop military and technical cooperation with Pyongyang.
After discussions, the two leaders signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement, which Putin noted includes a clause for mutual defence in the event of aggression against either country.
“The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement,”
Putin declared.
He criticised Western nations for supplying advanced, long-range weaponry, including F-16 fighters, to Ukraine for strikes against Russia, stating this violated major agreements.
“In light of this, Russia does not rule out the development of military-technical cooperation with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea,”
Putin added.
Kim commended Russia for making what he termed a strategically significant move to support North Korea, which was established in 1948 with the Soviet Union’s backing. Depending on the specifics of the agreement, which were not released, it could potentially alter the strategic balance in Northeast Asia by aligning Russia more closely with North Korea, which faces South Korea and its United States allies across the heavily fortified demilitarized zone (DMZ).
While North Korea has a defence treaty with China, it does not have the same level of active military collaboration with Beijing as it has developed with Russia over the past year. North Korea also has a 1961 treaty with the Soviet Union that included promises of mutual support in the event of an attack. China, North Korea’s main political and economic supporter, has yet to respond.
Putin’s engagement with Kim, which has included gifts of limousines and a tour of Russia’s new space launch centre, has raised concerns in the United States and its Asian allies.
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Putin was warmly welcomed in Pyongyang, greeted by cheering crowds lining the streets and children waving Russian flags. Kim, 40, met Putin at the airport, where they exchanged greetings. After their discussions, Putin drove Kim around in a luxury Russian limousine, and later, Kim returned the favour. The two leaders also attended a concert together.
Putin accused the United States, South Korea, and Japan of escalating tensions on the Korean peninsula, asserting that North Korea had the right to bolster its defences. Kim stated that the pact would enhance cooperation in politics, the economy, and defence, describing it as “strictly peace-loving and defensive” in nature.
“Our two countries’ relations have been elevated to the new higher level of an alliance,”
Kim proclaimed.
At the start of their summit, Kim expressed “unconditional support” for “all of Russia’s policies,” including “full support and firm alliance” for Putin’s war with Ukraine. Putin stated that Moscow was fighting against the hegemonic and imperialist policies of the United States and its allies, according to Russian media reports.
“We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including in the Ukrainian direction,”
Putin said.
The West imposed what it described as the toughest-ever sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The conflict in eastern Ukraine began in 2014 after a pro-Russian president was overthrown during Ukraine’s Maidan Revolution, and Russia annexed Crimea, with Russian-backed separatist forces battling Ukraine’s armed forces.
Putin, who hosted Kim at a summit in September in the Russian Far East that accelerated their military cooperation, received a grand reception in Pyongyang. An honour guard, including mounted soldiers, and a large crowd of civilians gathered at Kim Il Sung Square by the Taedong River in the capital. The scene featured children holding balloons and large portraits of the two leaders with national flags adorning the main building.
North Korea
“expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army, and people in carrying out a special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, and territorial integrity,”
Kim told Putin.
The countries’ partnership was described as an “engine for accelerating the building of a new multi-polar world” by North Korea’s state news agency KCNA.
Russia has leveraged its warming ties with North Korea to challenge Washington, while heavily sanctioned North Korea has gained political backing and promises of economic support and trade from Moscow. The United States and its allies expressed concerns that Russia could aid North Korea’s missile and nuclear programmes, which are banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and have accused Pyongyang of supplying ballistic missiles and artillery shells used by Russia in its war in Ukraine. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied these weapons transfers.
