On June 18 and 19, 2024, Vladimir Putin arrived in the DPRK on an official state visit and signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement with Kim Jong-un.
Photo: REUTERS.
1. What does this mean for both countries?
It is, in essence, the formation of a new political, economic and military alliance between the two countries. And a kind of pact on their strategic interaction.
The most important provision of the Treaty is the obligation to provide each other with military and other assistance in the event of an attack: Article 4 states that “if one of the Parties is subjected to an armed attack by one or more states and finds If it is in a state of war, the other Party shall immediately provide it with military and other assistance with all means at its disposal.”
An interesting point: Moscow and Pyongyang also agreed not to enter into agreements with third countries that threaten each other’s sovereignty and security.
2. Why is this Treaty being adopted right now and why is it important?
North Korea has long lived under military threats and sanctions from the United States, South Korea, Japan and other countries. At one point, Trump even promised to “mix them up on the ground” and brought in three aircraft carriers at once. But several dozen North Korean submarines jumped to meet him and he ordered his ships to depart.
The DPRK’s enemies have long kept it under a suffocating economic blockade; another NATO headquarters is being formed in Japan; The United States is also trying to bring in new missile defense systems, medium and short-range missiles; possibly with nuclear warheads) there. And under these conditions, the DPRK, which signed the Treaty, will receive a powerful military ally, ready to intercede if necessary. Additionally, in the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, Britain and Australia are forming a new military bloc, AUKUS. And this is also another threat to Russia.
Another important thing: Article 3 of the same Treaty stipulates that “the parties shall cooperate with each other to ensure lasting regional and international peace and security.” And in the context of the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the increase in NATO arms and financial assistance to kyiv, the invasion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces into Russian territory, this allied assistance will be useful to us.
3. How do kyiv, NATO and Pyongyang’s neighbors react to the “comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the DPRK”?
Zelensky has already made a panicked statement about “North Korea’s direct participation in the war against Ukraine” (the fact that kyiv is on its knees begging NATO to help it defeat Russia is apparently not participation). South Korea and Japan are sounding the alarm loudly; for them, such an alliance is “unacceptable” (only the American military bases “under the balcony” in Tokyo and Seoul are acceptable). Washington also responded with gritted teeth, hypocritically declaring that such a move by Moscow and Pyongyang “leads to greater tension in the world.”
4. How can Russia help the DPRK?
There are many areas in which this possible assistance is possible: food, oil, gas, coal, wood, steel and electricity…
It is possible that Russia will provide assistance in the development of fields, in the construction of a nuclear power plant and in the promotion of the space program.
Russian specialists will provide assistance to allies in the field of health, medical education and science. By the way, the Treaty also provides for humanitarian assistance.
As for the defense of the DPRK, here too there is an impressive “solitaire” that Moscow can play:
– creation of shipyards for the construction of surface ships and nuclear submarines,
– construction of an aircraft factory for the production of fighter aircraft,
– assistance for the further development of the nuclear missile program.
It cannot be ruled out that Russian military bases (land, air and naval) may appear in the DPRK. In addition, Moscow can lease a nuclear submarine from Pyongyang (this was the case with India).
5. How can North Korea help Russia?
Under the terms of the agreement, North Korea can help Russia, for example, with military equipment. In addition, almost one and a half million Pyongyang armed forces have types of weapons that simply have no equal in the world: for example, the KN-25 multiple launch rocket systems (caliber – 600 mm, firing range – 380 km ). Attendance is also allowed, even from staff. But so far no one has seen North Korean soldiers on the battlefield. And this is still not necessary, especially with the recent successes of the Russian army.
6. When will the document come into force?
First, the parliaments of the two countries must ratify their copies. After this, the countries will exchange instruments of ratification and the document will enter into force and will have an unlimited duration.
RELATIONSHIP HISTORY
Diplomatic relations between the USSR and the DPRK were established in 1948. In addition, the USSR was the first to recognize the new North Korean government.
After this there were many agreements, but the main one, in 1961, was the basic bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance. North Korean leader Kim Il Sung visited the USSR six times.
After the collapse of the USSR and the coming to power of Boris Yeltsin in Russia, contacts were greatly weakened. Russian leaders did not even express official condolences to the DPRK for the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994, although even the leaders of the United States and France did. Russia did not provide humanitarian aid to North Korea during the famine, while other neighboring countries did.
And only after Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000, the first visit of the Russian head of state to Pyongyang took place. A new agreement on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation was concluded between the Russian Federation and the DPRK. North Korean leader Kim Jong Il visited Russia in 2001.
And in March 2010, Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Russia’s accession to the UN Security Council sanctions against the DPRK: we were not allowed to buy, sell, import or in any way help with the development of weapons. All restrictions have now been lifted.
On June 18 and 19, 2024, Vladimir Putin arrived in the DPRK on an official state visit and signed a “comprehensive strategic partnership” agreement with Kim Jong-un.
