Putin signs law ratifying comprehensive partnership with North Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a law ratifying the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty between Russia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The treaty, signed on June 19, 2024, in Pyongyang, was submitted for ratification to the State Duma by Putin on October 15, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

According to the preamble, the treaty is designed to serve the fundamental interests of both nations, contributing to regional and global peace, security, and stability.

The agreement outlines that both countries will maintain and develop a permanent strategic partnership based on mutual respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity, non-interference in domestic affairs, equality, and adherence to international law principles governing friendly relations and cooperation.

Among its key provisions, the treaty stipulates that both parties will provide immediate military and other assistance in the event of an armed attack, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter. It also emphasizes that neither party will enter into agreements with third states that undermine the sovereignty, security, or territorial integrity of the other, or interfere with its right to self-determined development.

Although the treaty has just been ratified, there have been longstanding reports of North Korean military personnel already in Russia, particularly in the context of Russia’s ongoing military operations in Ukraine. U.S., South Korean, and Ukrainian officials estimate that around 10,000 North Korean soldiers have been deployed to Russia. These personnel are reportedly being trained at military facilities in Russia's Far East and some are being sent to the Kursk region, where clashes between Russian and Ukrainian forces are ongoing.

Kyiv has also claimed that North Korean officers are assisting Russian forces in utilizing weaponry that Pyongyang previously supplied to Moscow for use in the Ukraine conflict.

While reports of North Korean military officers in Russia have circulated since September, Mediazona, an online news outlet, suggests that the first significant influx of North Korean soldiers into Russia occurred in July.

According to Russian Border Guard Service data, 3,765 North Koreans entered Russia in July, claiming to be “students” — a historic surge, given that only about 130 North Korean students were registered in Russia as of April, according to Russia’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education.

By Tamilla Hasanova