North Korea has officially ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, a pact signed by both countries’ leaders in June, which commits them to mutual support in the event of an armed conflict, according to North Korean state media outlet KCNA on Tuesday.
The treaty, now approved by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un through a signed decree on Monday, stipulates that both nations are bound to provide immediate military and logistical support, using all available resources, should either come under attack. Russian President Vladimir Putin has also signed this pact into law, marking a significant deepening of military cooperation between the two countries.
The agreement comes as North Korea reportedly sent thousands of troops to support Russia’s ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Reports from Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv suggest that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers are stationed in Russia, with some allegedly engaging in combat in Kursk, a region near the Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that North Korean forces have suffered casualties, describing these initial engagements as a “new chapter in global instability.”
The growing alliance between North Korea and Russia has drawn condemnation from the international community, with Western nations voicing concerns over the heightened security risks posed by this deepening military cooperation.