North Korea: Putin and Kim pledge mutual help against ‘aggression’

Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have signed a letter of commitment promising that Russia and North Korea may support one another in the event of “aggression” against either nation.

The Russian leader made the announcement after speaking with Mr. Kim during his first spectacular visit to Pyongyang since 2000.

Mr Kim said it took their marriage to” a new, high levels of empire”.

The West has been concerned about the agreement because it cements a rapidly expanding relationship. It could also have significant consequences for the globe, say spectators.

Any kind of joint defense agreement might lead to Moscow supporting Pyongyang in a pending issue on the Korean Peninsula, and North Korea might boldly support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine.

Mr. Putin is alleged to have given the North Koreans place technology that could support their missile program, while Mr. Kim is already accused of providing Russia with weapons. The two next met in Russia in September.

On Wednesday they signed a” complete relationship agreement” that included a section where they agreed to give “mutual assistance in the event of anger” against either state, said Mr Putin. He did not spell out what would entail anger.

Mr Putin has in recent months faced difficulties on the battlefield in Ukraine, particularly with depleting weapons. During their last face-to-face meeting in September, when Mr Kim visited Russia, the two had discussed military cooperation and were suspected of striking an arms deal. Since then there has been growing evidence that Russia has been deploying North Korean missiles in Ukraine.

However, in a major shift that Kyiv hopes will turn the tide in its favor, the US and other Nato nations have recently granted permission to Ukraine to use Western arms on Russian soil.

Mr. Putin issued a warning about the consequences and earlier this month said he was thinking about using long-range arms against Western enemies, everything that North Korea has been developing.

He criticised the West’s decision again on Wednesday, saying it was” a gross violation” of restrictions under international obligations.

He even criticized Western sanctions against Russia and North Korea, saying both “do not tolerate the vocabulary of bullying and diktat” and would continue to support the West’s employ of” sanctions killing” to preserve “hegemony.”

Mr. Kim praised their agreement as establishing a substantial and ancient time in their relationship. He also expressed “full aid and cooperation” for Russia in its war on Ukraine.

Seoul, which had warned Russia against going “beyond a particular place” prior to the meeting, is likely to be upset by the agreement.

After Russia’s conflict with Ukraine ends, national security adviser Chang Ho-jin had told his Soviet rival that Moscow” should consider which of North Korea and South Korea will be more critical to it.”

Any for agreement, according to Rachel Lee, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center think tank’s Korea program, do have” significant repercussions for the area and the earth.”

In addition to the possibility of Russian intervention in a fresh conflict between the two Koreas,” we could face an even bigger global [weapons ] proliferation problem” if North Korea continues to supply weapons to Russia and Russia continues to provide advanced military technology to North Korea.

Chad O’Carroll, a North Korean expert from NK News, said on X, previously Online, that the clause may open the door to conflict- related co- operation, including the possibility of Northern Asian soldiers assisting Russia in Ukraine.

Mr. Putin’s visit began with a later than anticipated arrival in Pyongyang that caused him to touch down at around 0300 local time ( 18:00 GMT ). Mr. Kim greeted him with a red carpet welcome and an embrace shortly after he left the helicopter, which appeared to be without a doubt.

North Korean state media reported that the money was lit up with streetlights and buildings as the Soviet leader was transported to the Kumsusan guesthouse, which is where Xi Jinping, a former ally of China, stayed earlier. It gave off a powerful picture for a developing nation that was constantly experiencing an energy shortage.

Mr. Putin was greeted at the later on Wednesday service by a show of eager passion that was meticulously choreographed and full of North Korean advertising imagery. Typical of the North Korean government, it featured a toss of hundreds of thousands, many of whom would have been told to join.

His parade glinted through Pyongyang’s streets lined with individuals waving Russian banners, bouquets of flowers, and pictures of Mr. Putin while officers were riding motorcycles in great formation. They chanted “welcome Putin” and” North Korea Russia friendship”.

At Kim Il Sung Square, named after the government’s leader and Mr Kim’s father, a group dressed in the two countries ‘ symbol colours and evenly spaced out on the plaza waited for Mr Putin’s appearance. They cheered and released balloons into the sky as he stepped out of his car.

The Russian leader was met by young children wearing white, the color that represents the purity of North Korean society. Mr. Putin and Mr. Kim passed rows of soldiers riding white horses, a nod to the horse Mr. Kim’s grandfather was said to have ridden while leading his army against the Japanese.

The two men then examined goose-stepping soldiers while standing in front of meters-high, solemn portraits of themselves that adorned a nearby building and loomed over the festivities below.

Following that, Mr. Putin attended a gala concert and banquet with a banquet, which included dishes like chicken soup with ginseng and pumpkin and a white flower-shaped cod.

Mr. Putin left for Vietnam late on Wednesday, but not before the two exchanged gifts. Mr. Putin even took Mr. Kim for a spin in a second, luxurious Aurus vehicle. During his trip to Russia, Mr. Kim received the first. Additionally, he gave a tea set and a ceremonial admiral’s dagger to Mr. Kim. Mr. Kim provided a number of works of art that allegedly depicted Mr. Putin.

Just four months after taking office, Mr. Putin visited Pyongyang in 2000 to meet Mr. Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il.

Twenty- four years later, North Korea’s economy has been crippled even further by international sanctions. Kim Jong Un, according to some observers, requested significant aid from North Korea’s old friend, including food, fuel, foreign currency, and technology. Russia played a significant role in bolstering the Kim family regime during the Soviet era.

During Mr Kim’s visit to Russia last September, Mr Putin had promised to help North Korea develop its satellites, after several failed launches. The US believes North Korea’s satellite programme is also aimed at boosting its ballistic missile capabilities, as the technology is similar.

But both leader also stand to reap diplomatic gains and soft power, note observers.

They are” trying to lessen the pain of international sanctions by establishing a new network of friends and partners that are beyond the reach of US sanctions,” said Jeffrey Lewis, director at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies.

According to analysts, this in turn supports the “multipolar” world view that Russia, China, and other states have been pushing as an alternative to the current international order being led by the US and Western allies.

Additional reporting by Joel Guinto, Kelly Ng and Jake Kwon.