Kim Jong-Un. Photo : afp.com/STR
A new chapter is being written in Russian-North Korean relations. Leader Kim Jong-un ratified a mutual defense agreement with Russia on November 11, as announced by the official KCNA agency. This signature echoes that of President Vladimir Putin, thus marking the formalization of a strategic rapprochement between the two nations.
This military pact, the result of discussions held during Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang last June, provides for immediate reciprocal military assistance in the event of aggression against one of the signatories. The agreement goes beyond a simple defensive framework, committing the two countries to coordinate their positions at the United Nations and to stand together in the face of Western sanctions.
The implications of this treaty are already evident on the ground. According to the Ukrainian authorities, 11,000 North Korean soldiers are currently deployed on Russian territory, particularly in the Kursk region, the scene of clashes with Ukrainian forces since August. The Kremlin, however, remains silent on this military presence.
The recent visit to Moscow by North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui illustrates the strength of this alliance. Describing the offensive in Ukraine as a “sacred struggle,” she reaffirmed Pyongyang’s unwavering support for the Russian cause. This formal alliance is a continuation of the historical ties between the two countries, which date back to the era of the Cold War.
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