LIVE – War in Ukraine: Putin says Russia and North Korea do not accept “blackmail” from the West

Kim Jong-un held a military ceremony and rolled out the red carpet to mark the occasion of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to the country’s capital. The first in 24 years.

The North Korean leader assures that the mutual assistance agreement signed with Russia was purely “defensive”, despite the clear warning sent to the West. “This powerful treaty is nothing less than a truly constructive document, forward-looking, and exclusively peaceful and defensive,” he argues alongside Vladimir Putin, whom he described as “the best friend of the Korean people.

Vladimir Putin said Russia and North Korea do not accept “blackmail” and “diktat” from the West, with both countries facing heavy international sanctions. “Russia and Korea both lead an independent foreign policy and do not accept the language of blackmail and diktat,” the Russian president said in a statement to the press after signing the agreement which provides for mutual assistance in the event of “aggression” from one of the two countries.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Wednesday that the strategic partnership agreement signed with North Korea constituted a pact of mutual assistance in the event of aggression, a message which is clearly aimed at Westerners. Russia welcomes this “truly revolutionary document” and specifies that it does not exclude “military-technical cooperation for itself” with North Korea.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un have signed a strategic partnership agreement, according to Russian news agencies. For the moment, the content of the document remains secret but the West fears a strengthening of military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang, which already supplies the Russian army with ammunition and missiles for its offensive in Ukraine – according to them.

Americans and Europeans have been worried for months about the accelerated rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang, accusing the North Koreans of massively delivering munitions and missiles to Russia. In exchange, according to Washington and Seoul, Russia provided North Korea with expertise for its satellite program and sent aid to deal with the country’s food shortages.

The head of the Kremlin praises the cooperation between the two countries “which is based on the principles of equality and mutual respect for interests” announces that “a “new fundamental document” governing bilateral relations “in the long term ” is “ready”. According to Moscow, this includes a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement, which, if signed, will be conditioned by “the profound evolution of the geopolitical situation in the world”.

Relations between Russia and North Korea are entering a “new era of prosperity”, assured Kim Jong Un at the summit in Pyongyang, promising the strengthening of the “spirited friendship” between the two countries. The North Korean leader referred to “Soviet-Korean relations of the last century” to describe this renewal.

It has been 24 years since the Russian leader last set foot in North Korea. During his visit, Vladimir Putin took the opportunity to invite Kim Jong Un to visit Moscow.

This bilateral summit is the second meeting between the two men in less than a year.

“We very much appreciate your systematic and permanent support of Russian policy, including on the Ukrainian issue,” declared Vladimir Putin, quoted by Russian agencies.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un opened a bilateral summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday, during which they are expected to discuss strengthening their military cooperation, bypassing international sanctions. The two heads of state “started negotiations within the framework of their delegations”, according to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.