North Korea and Russia Strengthen Ties with Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty

North Korea and Russia have officially finalized a new strategic partnership, marking a significant step in their growing alliance.

On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ratified the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty with Russia, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s endorsement of the agreement last week.

The pact, originally signed on June 19 in Pyongyang, strengthens military and political ties between the two countries, further deepening their relationship amid rising tensions with the West.

The treaty includes a clause similar to NATO’s Article V, pledging mutual defense if either nation is attacked. Both countries also agreed to refrain from joining alliances or agreements that could threaten one another and to prevent their territories from being used in ways that could compromise each other’s sovereignty. This clause suggests a unified front against perceived threats, reinforcing the partnership’s defensive and strategic aspects.

The agreement also emphasizes the promotion of a “multipolar world order,” a concept that advocates for the distribution of global power across multiple nations rather than concentration in the hands of a few. Additionally, the treaty highlights plans to enhance cross-border cooperation, signaling an effort to build economic resilience despite Western sanctions.

This announcement follows reports from Ukraine’s Defense Ministry claiming that Ukrainian forces recently clashed with North Korean units stationed in the Russian border region of Kursk. For months, Ukrainian officials have urged international allies to impose stricter sanctions on North Korea, arguing that its support for Russia effectively makes it a participant in the conflict.

Russia’s growing alliance with North Korea has intensified since Putin’s visit to Pyongyang in June. During this visit, the two nations signed a defense pact, marking the closest military collaboration between them since the Cold War. As Russia faces international isolation over its invasion of Ukraine, it has increasingly sought support from allies like North Korea, both militarily and politically.

Reports from South Korean, Ukrainian, and US sources suggest that thousands of North Korean soldiers may have been sent to Russia to assist in its efforts. South Korean intelligence indicates that up to 12,000 North Korean troops could already be stationed at Russian bases in the Far East, potentially preparing for deployment in Ukraine. South Korean authorities have expressed concerns that these North Korean forces may join Russian troops in combat against Ukrainian defenders, further escalating the conflict.

On Tuesday, foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) and three key allies — South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand — issued a strong statement condemning the increasing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. They expressed alarm at the possibility of North Korean troops directly supporting Russia’s campaign in Ukraine, warning that such involvement would dangerously expand the scope of the conflict.

The G7 countries — comprising the United States, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, and Canada — voiced unified opposition to what they described as “the DPRK’s (North Korea’s) direct support for Russia’s war of aggression.” The statement highlighted concerns about North Korean ballistic missile and munitions exports to Russia, labeling them as violations of United Nations Security Council resolutions. The ministers warned that any North Korean personnel involved in training, operating, or providing missile or arms support to Russia would also be in breach of international law.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 and currently occupies nearly a fifth of Ukrainian territory. Kyiv remains determined to reclaim all occupied areas, asserting that peace can only be achieved if Russia withdraws its forces and Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored.