Russia and North Korea ink mutual Security Agreement in Pyongyang 

Vladimir Putin, the President of Russia, and Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea, inked a deal that calls for the two nations to defend one another in the event of an attack. This development has alarmed Western nations about possible Russian support for Pyongyang’s nuclear or missile programmes.  

The West will be more concerned about the strengthening military and economic links between Pyongyang  and Moscow as a result of the inclusion of a mutual defense provision in their all-encompassing strategic cooperation, which Kim referred to as an “alliance.” Following hours of negotiations in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, the deal was finally sealed on Wednesday. 

Increasing Concerns

US intelligence agencies suspect that in exchange for armaments for the war in Ukraine, Putin is giving North Korea access to nuclear submarine and ballistic missile technologies. The US media reported that the Biden administration had concerns that Moscow might assist North Korea in completing the necessary procedures to produce its first nuclear-armed submarine.  

It was not immediately clear whether North Korea’s reported supply of short-range ballistic missiles to Russia during the war, which it could also use in the event of a major conflict with South Korea, or intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) with the ability to reaching the US mainland would be the target of Russian support for ballistic missiles. 

According to Reuters, undersecretary of State Bonnie Jenkins, the top US arms control official, thinks North Korea is eager to purchase fighter planes, surface-to-air missiles, armored vehicles, materials or equipment for producing ballistic missiles, and other cutting-edge technologies from Russia. 

Russia’s calculated move

Because of its military requirements in Ukraine, experts suggested that Russia’s decision to directly support the North Korean regime’s weapons development would be a dramatic departure from its post-Cold War foreign policy. 

The terms of the security accord were not made public by North Korea or Russia. The nature of such support was not immediately apparent, and the agreement’s specifics were not made widely available. In the last nine months, Putin and Kim have had two summits. 

Later, according to Tass, Putin referred to the agreement as “defensive,” invoking North Korea’s right to self-defense. Russia wouldn’t rule out stepping up its military-technical ties with North Korea, he added.  

Speaking following the signing ceremony, Kim described the agreement as the “strongest ever treaty” between the two nations, bringing their cooperation to a “higher level.” He hailed the deal as “accelerating the formation of an entirely different multipolar world” and predicted that it would result in increased military, economic, and political cooperation. Concerned that increasing military cooperation among the isolated, sanctioned regimes could support the Kremlin’s war effort in Ukraine and heighten instability on the Korean peninsula, the US and South Korea have been closely monitoring Putin’s visit. 

According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington, Russia is making desperate measures to “develop and expand relations with nations that can provide it the resources it needs to carry on the war that it launched against Ukraine,” and Putin’s visit underscores these efforts.  

“North Korea is providing Russia with significant munitions and other weaponry for use in Ukraine,” Blinken continued. Drones and other weapons used against humans and civilian infrastructure have been supplied by Iran. Kim is thought to have agreed to provide missiles and other weapons for use by Russian soldiers in Ukraine during a summit with Putin in Vladivostok last September. In exchange, Russia would support North Korea’s space programmes and give food and energy assistance.  

Early on Wednesday morning, Kim and Putin met at Pyongyang’s international airport. From there, they were driven through the capital’s brightly lit streets, passing buildings adorned with Russian flags and president Putin’s photos. In his opening remarks, Putin praised Kim for supporting his battle in Ukraine and described it as a part of a larger effort to resist the imperialist hegemonistic ambitions of the US and their satellites against the Russian Federation.  

The two leaders exchanged gifts: for Kim, a tea set and a luxurious Aurus limousine produced in Russia; for Putin, gifts that were purportedly related to his image, “including busts,” according to Kremlin aides.