North Korea has officially ratified defence pact with Russia, solidifying a deepening military alliance amid Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine, according to state media reports on Tuesday. The Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) announced that the deal was “ratified as a decree of the President of the State Affairs,” referring to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un by his formal title.
This announcement follows a unanimous vote by Russian lawmakers last week to ratify the agreement, which President Vladimir Putin subsequently signed. The pact represents an intensifying partnership, with North Korea emerging as one of Russia’s staunchest supporters in its full-scale offensive on Ukraine.
Western nations have long alleged that North Korea has been supplying artillery shells and missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine. In recent weeks, this support reportedly escalated with the deployment of thousands of North Korean troops to the conflict, a development yet to be officially confirmed by Moscow but widely discussed in international circles.
The treaty, signed by Putin and Kim in June during the Russian President’s visit to Pyongyang, commits both nations to provide mutual military assistance “without delay” in the event of an attack and to collaborate against Western-imposed sanctions. At the time, Putin described the agreement as a “breakthrough document.”
In recent weeks, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Moscow, expressing unwavering support for Russia. She stated that North Korea would “stand firmly by our Russian comrades until victory day.” She referred to Russia’s actions in Ukraine as a “sacred struggle” and praised Putin’s “wise leadership.”
Intelligence reports from South Korea, Ukraine, and Western sources suggest that North Korea may have deployed around 10,000 troops to Russia. While Putin has not directly addressed this alleged deployment, he has instead deflected questions, focusing criticism on the West’s support for Ukraine.
In return for its support, North Korea may be receiving technological assistance from Russia, which could potentially advance Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons program. This exchange of military aid and technology raises concerns globally, mainly as North Korea recently tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), underscoring the implications of its alliance with Russia.
Team BharatShakti
