North Korea and Russia have signed a pact promising immediate military assistance if either nation is attacked. This agreement was sealed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years. The pledge revives a mutual defense agreement initially established by a 1961 treaty between the Cold War allies, which was annulled in 1990 when the Soviet Union established diplomatic ties with South Korea. The agreement, described as a “comprehensive strategic partnership,” was signed by Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. It represents one of the most significant moves in Asia by Moscow in recent years. Article 4 of the agreement stipulates that if either side faces an armed invasion or is in a state of war, the other side will immediately provide military and other assistance using all available means, in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of each country. Article 51 of the U.N. Charter allows for individual or collective self-defense actions by member countries.
This pact comes amid increasing international isolation for both countries and growing concerns from the United States and its Asian allies regarding the extent of Russia’s support for North Korea, the only nation to have tested a nuclear weapon this century. Kim Jong Un echoed Putin’s sentiments, explicitly linking their deepening ties to combating the “hegemonic and imperialist” policies of the West, particularly the United States and its support for Ukraine. The agreement also includes clauses stating that neither country will sign any treaty with a third nation that infringes on the other’s interests, nor will they allow their territories to be used by any country to harm each other’s security and sovereignty. Additionally, the two nations will take joint actions to strengthen their defense capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security.
Reactions to the agreement have varied. South Korea and the White House did not immediately comment on the reported content of the pact. Japan, however, expressed “grave concerns” about Putin’s willingness to cooperate with North Korea on military technology. China, North Korea’s main political and economic ally, has remained muted in its response. Washington and Seoul have been increasingly alarmed by the deepening military cooperation between Russia and North Korea, accusing the two nations of violating international laws by trading arms for use in Moscow’s war against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have claimed to find North Korean missile debris within their country, although both Russia and North Korea deny any arms trade.
Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak criticized Russia, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, for allowing what he termed the “most brazen nullification” of all sanctions imposed on North Korea to stop its weapons development. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated that the pact demonstrates how authoritarian powers are aligning.
During his visit to Pyongyang, Putin thanked Kim for North Korea’s support of Russian policy, and Kim reaffirmed his “unconditional” and unwavering support for “all of Russia’s policies,” including Putin’s war with Ukraine. The North Korean state news agency KCNA released the full text of the agreement, which also includes cooperation on nuclear energy, space exploration, and food and energy security. Cha Du Hyeogn, a former South Korean government official now a fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, noted that the mutual defense pledge is reminiscent of the 1961 treaty between North Korea and the Soviet Union. However, he pointed out that the reference to the U.N. Charter and each country’s laws leaves room for interpretation, and it is unclear whether the agreement constitutes a formal alliance. Cha suggested that the pact reflects Kim’s eagerness to solidify the agreement while Putin appears more cautious.
This mutual defense pact between North Korea and Russia marks a significant development in their bilateral relations and signals a potential shift in the geopolitical landscape, particularly in light of their increasing isolation and the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
