Russia's President Putin and North Korea's Leader Kim pledge deepening ties prior to the US-Russia summit, promising stronger alliance.
Russia and North Korea Deepen Military Ties Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit
In a significant development, Russia and North Korea have been strengthening their military cooperation, with thousands of North Korean troops deployed to support Russia's operations in Ukraine. This alliance, marked by a mutual defense pact and the exchange of advanced military technology, has evolved over the past year and is closely tied to Russia's ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The partnership between the two countries has its roots in the Cold War era, where the Soviet Union supported North Korea militarily and politically during and after the Korean War. However, relations between the two nations were more limited following the dissolution of the Soviet Union until recently.
In June 2024, Russia and North Korea signed the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, their most significant military agreement since the 1961 Soviet-North Korean treaty. This treaty includes a mutual defense clause, committing both countries to provide military assistance if either is attacked, under the UN Charter Article 51.
According to reports, North Korea has dispatched approximately 14,000 troops to the Russian front in Ukraine, with the majority of them stationed in the Kursk region. These troops include combat engineers, special forces, and military construction personnel. In addition to personnel, Russia has supplied North Korea with advanced military technology, such as air defense missiles, drones, electronic warfare capabilities, and satellite technologies.
The human cost of this alliance has been a matter of concern, with reports suggesting that North Koreans may be sent to fight or perform dangerous labor without consent. This reflects a coercive element in the alliance, which some sources note as a potential issue.
The expanding military alliance between Russia and North Korea is not without strategic benefits for both nations. Russia gains manpower not limited by domestic political constraints, while North Korea gains military technology, resources, international relevance, and battlefield experience.
The partnership has resulted in multiple high-level meetings in Pyongyang and Moscow, including frequent visits by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu and discussions directly involving Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. These meetings indicate a strategic alliance deeper than previously acknowledged.
Ahead of the summit between Putin and Trump, it was revealed that Putin shared information with Kim Jong Un regarding the upcoming talks. Kim offered his full support for the war during talks last month with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Kim also pledged that North Korea would fully support all future measures taken by the Russian leadership.
The exact nature of the information shared between Putin and Kim Jong Un is not specified, but it is clear that the alliance between the two nations is growing stronger. The number of North Korean troops in Russia's Kursk region is estimated to be over 10,000, with around 600 estimated to have been killed in the conflict.
As the world watches the developments unfold, it remains to be seen how this deepening military alliance between Russia and North Korea will impact the geopolitical landscape, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
- The deepening military ties between Russia and North Korea are also evident in the political and general news spheres, as the two nations continue to exchange advanced military technology and sign significant agreements, such as the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
- The political ramifications of this strengthening alliance extend beyond the military arena, with North Korea offering its full support for Russia during the upcoming summit between Putin and Trump, a move that could have significant implications for war-and-conflicts worldwide.
