Deputy FM: Military assistance in Russia-DPRK treaty serves as deterrent signal

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has clarified that the mutual military assistance provisions outlined in the treaty between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) will only be activated in the event of aggression against one of the parties. 

Ryabkov emphasized that the mechanisms for military assistance will come into play solely if one party suffers an act of aggression, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

In the absence of such aggression towards the DPRK, the treaty's relevant clauses will remain unchanged and continue to function as specified in the agreement.

“This serves as a deterrence signal for all parties involved,” Ryabkov added.

Just a day prior, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and the DPRK has been officially ratified, expressing Moscow's unwavering confidence in the North Korean leadership's commitment to their agreements.

On October 24, the State Duma ratified an open-ended treaty that commits Russia and North Korea to mutual assistance in the event of an attack. Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko stated that there are no additional annexes to the treaty, which aims to enhance security on the Korean Peninsula.

In a related context, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby addressed concerns about North Korean soldiers potentially entering the conflict zone in Ukraine. He warned that such soldiers would be considered “legitimate military targets” if they engage in combat alongside Russian forces.

“We are not yet certain if these soldiers will participate in combat, but it remains a troubling possibility. If they are deployed to fight against Ukraine, they will be treated as legitimate targets, and the Ukrainian military will defend itself against North Korean personnel in the same manner as it does against Russian soldiers,” Kirby stated.

Speculation regarding the arrival of North Korean soldiers in Russia emerged last week. South Korean intelligence suggests that approximately 1,500 North Korean troops are currently at military training grounds in Russia's Far East.

According to U.S. sources, at least 3,000 North Korean servicemen arrived in Vladivostok in October and have been distributed across various military training sites.

South Korean President Yun Suk Yeol condemned this development as a provocation, while the Kremlin dismissed reports of North Korean military personnel being dispatched to Russia as contradictory, with North Korean authorities labelling them as mere rumours.

By Tamilla Hasanova