MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia’s Federation Council ratified on Wednesday the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea.
The bilateral treaty, signed in June during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea, establishes a comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang based on the principles of mutual respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The document also emphasizes the importance of non-interference in one another’s internal affairs and the desire to create a just and multipolar world order.
This agreement replaces the original Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance between Russia and North Korea, which was signed back in 2000 and is now of unlimited duration.
One particularly noteworthy point is Article 4 of the agreement, which states, should one of the parties be subjected to armed aggression by any state or group of states and find itself embroiled in conflict, the other party will immediately provide military and other forms of assistance with all available means. This is done according to Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and aligns with both Russian and North Korean laws.
Similarly, Article 8 of the treaty sees the two nations establishing mechanisms for joint activities aimed at bolstering their defense capacities, particularly through preemptive measures against any threat of war. The language suggests both Moscow and Pyongyang are serious about fostering regional and global peace and security.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko has earlier made it clear, though, this treaty does not amount to creating any kind of military alliance.
Meanwhile, the geopolitical situation continues to shift. The deployment of North Korean troops to support Russia amid the war with Ukraine—once only speculative—is confirmed. The dynamics of this situation demonstrate growing military cooperation, with North Korean soldiers reportedly positioned on Russian soil to assist Moscow's efforts on various fronts.
On October 25, President Vladimir Putin remarked about discussions indicating North Korea might assist Russia to what extent remains undetermined. Correspondingly, North Korea's foreign ministry noted, should their forces be deployed, their actions would adhere to “international legal norms.”
This convergence has provoked concerns, particularly from South Korea, which finds itself on the front lines of these shifting alliances. Following North Korea’s increased military cooperation with Russia, South Korea’s Deputy National Security Advisor, Kim Tae-hyo, announced on October 22 the country would adopt “phased response measures.” The specifics remain under wraps, but the conservative Yoon Suk-yeol administration appears ready to expand its support for Ukraine, possibly including military aid.
Historically, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine commenced, North Korea has been one of Moscow’s staunchest advocates. Unanimously opposing the UN General Assembly resolution condemning Russia’s aggression, North Korea has continually mocked Ukrainian efforts and suggested their nuclear ambitions could make them targets for Russian nuclear capabilities.
Notably, the failure of the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim Jong-un and then-President Donald Trump has had lasting ramifications. Since then, Kim has effectively sidelined the United States from his strategic calculations.
The events leading up to today’s treaty and the evident deployments highlight the heightened unpredictability of international alliances. With the dynamic situation allowing for military cooperation between North Korea and Russia—a factor reminiscent of Cold War-era tensions—the potential consequences could reverberate across East Asia.
For Seoul, this precarious situation is all too familiar. Any actions taken now could risk shattering decades of diplomatic relations, especially with Russia’s role shifting ever so closer to North Korea. Adopting strategies based solely on immediate responses rather than long-term geopolitical interests may lead to strategic miscalculations.
Now, experts are cautioning South Korea not to disregard the lessons of history. Previous military commitments made during global conflicts have often led to losses. During the Vietnam War, for example, South Korea dispatched elite units to aid the United States, reflecting choices driven more by perceived necessity than overarching strategy.
Today, South Korea sits on the cusp of extensive military cooperation with nations like the United States, yet it faces challenges posed by the increasingly reclusive and militaristic North Korea, now more capable and more determined to bolster its arsenal through exiting alliances.
Should this North Korea-Russia partnership solidify, the potential for instabilities across Northeast Asia could escalate. New information suggests this partnership could pave the way for North Korea to receive advanced military technologies, like intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities, which would significantly bolster its nuclear program.
For Pyongyang, the war presents itself as both turmoil and opportunity—a chance to advance its military might as it pulls away from previous diplomatic attachments, particularly with the United States and allies, making the chances of voluntary denuclearization appear nearly zero.
At this juncture, key players globally are left with difficult strategic questions. The alliance’s potential consolidation mimics historical geopolitical divisions, showing how quickly alliances can pivot, especially when shaped by mutual interests and perceived threats. While Russia seeks to reinforce its position through North Korea's military capabilities, Kim’s strategies reflect the shifting balance of power as the traditional unipolar world order gives way to more complex, multipolar realities.
