Defense agreement between North Korea and Russia enters into force

(Patria) - A significant defense pact between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, has entered into force after the two sides exchanged ratification documents, the official North Korean news agency KCNA announced on Thursday, AFP reports.

The formalization of the agreement comes after the United States and South Korea accused nuclear-armed North Korea of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia fight in Ukraine.

Experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong Un wants to obtain advanced technology from Moscow and, in return, gain combat experience for his troops.

Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a strategic partnership agreement during the Kremlin chief's visit to Pyongyang.

It obliges both states to provide military assistance "without delay" in case of an attack on the other and to jointly oppose Western sanctions.
The agreement entered into force on Wednesday, when the deputy foreign ministers of these countries, Kim Jong Gyu and Andrey Rudenko, exchanged ratification documents in Moscow.

Lawmakers in Moscow voted unanimously for the agreement last month, and it was later signed by Putin. Pyongyang said it was ratified by a decree from Kim.

The agreement will serve "as a powerful driving force accelerating the establishment of an independent and just multipolar world order without domination, subjugation, and hegemony," KCNA said.

Analysts suggest that Pyongyang could use Ukraine as a means to realign its foreign policy.

By sending troops, North Korea is positioning itself in Russia's war economy as a supplier of weapons, military support, and labor, potentially even bypassing its traditional ally, neighbor, and main trading partner, China, they say.

North Korea and Russia have strengthened their military ties since Moscow's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Both countries are under UN sanctions, the former for its nuclear weapons program, and the latter for the conflict in Ukraine.

Kim said last week during the visit of Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov to Pyongyang that his government, army, and people will "unwaveringly support the Russian Federation's policy to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity".

Putin welcomed the agreement in June as a "breakthrough document".