Putin voices support for Russia-North Korea joint military exercises

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested the possibility of holding joint military exercises with North Korea, citing the mutual defence clause in the two countries' bilateral agreement.

He made these remarks at the 21st annual meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club in Sochi, which was streamed live on the event's website, Caliber.Az reports.

The topic of the meeting was "A Lasting Peace—On What Basis? Global Security and Equal Opportunities for Development in the 21st Century."

"Let’s see, we can hold joint exercises, why not?" he said during the plenary session.

"There is also Article 4 in the agreement, which covers mutual assistance in case of aggression from another state. It’s all there."

Meanwhile, President Putin has rejected the idea of joining forces with US President-elect Donald Trump to counter China. 

Responding to a question about a hypothetical request from Trump to unite against China, Putin emphasised that Moscow and Beijing cooperate and maintain friendly relations against no one. He stressed that their partnership is not aimed at third countries, including the US.

"Our relations are focused on creating conditions for the development of our countries and ensuring the security of our peoples," Putin stated.

The Russian leader also added that he could hardly imagine such a request coming from Trump.

The Valdai Discussion Club was founded in 2004 and is named after Lake Valdai, near Veliky Novgorod, where the Club held its inaugural meeting.

The Club is highly regarded for its intellectual influence, both within Russia and internationally. Over 9,000 scientists, researchers, policymakers, and public figures from across the globe have participated in its activities.

Regional conferences hosted by the Valdai Club—covering areas such as Asia, Africa, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Russia-China relations—have garnered significant attention from the international expert community. The Club also organises sessions at major forums like the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum and the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

In 2024, the Valdai Club launched a new initiative called Valdai – New Generation, designed to build a community of young scholars focused on finding innovative solutions to the pressing challenges of international politics and the global economy.

In recent years, the Club’s conferences have attracted numerous prominent politicians, experts, public figures, and cultural personalities from Russia and abroad.

By Naila Huseynova