North Korea has officially ratified a defense agreement with Russia, further solidifying their alliance in the context of Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine. The North Korean state news agency KCNA reported the ratification, which was finalized through a decree signed on Monday by leader Kim Jong Un.
Putin Seals Defense Cooperation Deal with North Korea
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed the agreement into law, according to the Kremlin. This pact formalizes months of escalating security cooperation between the two nations, who were communist allies during the Cold War. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Moscow and Pyongyang have strengthened their ties, with North Korea providing support.
Reports from Ukrainian authorities indicate that approximately 11,000 North Korean soldiers have already been deployed to Russian territory, specifically to the Kursk region, to aid in combat against Ukrainian forces. This region has seen heightened conflict, particularly after Ukraine’s counteroffensive launched in August.
Hong Min, a specialist at the South Korean Institute for National Unification, noted that the pact between Moscow and Pyongyang aims to legitimize the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia. “This agreement signals the potential for even greater deployment of North Korean soldiers on Russian soil,” he added.
Additionally, North Korea’s Foreign Minister, Choe Son Hui, recently visited Moscow, affirming her nation’s unwavering support for Russia. She described Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine as a “sacred fight” and vowed to stand alongside “Russian comrades until Victory Day.”
