New North Korea-Russia pact calls for immediate military aid if invaded

[Manny]

North Korea and Russia have agreed to provide immediate military assistance if either faces armed aggression, according to the full text of a landmark pact released on Thursday by Pyongyang after a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Hours after Putin departed for Vietnam, North Korea's state media published the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", which in effect revives a defunct mutual defence agreement from the 1960s.



The agreement, which Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed on Wednesday and also included cooperation on nuclear energy, space exploration, food and energy security, is one of the highest-profile moves in Asia by Moscow in years. Putin visited China last month, soon after his inauguration for a fifth term as president.

"In case any one of the two sides is put in a state of war by an armed invasion from an individual state or several states, the other side shall provide military and other assistance with all means in its possession without delay in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and the laws of the DPRK and the Russian Federation," Article 4 of the agreement says, using the initials of North Korea's official name.

Article 51 of the U.N. Charter provides for the right of a member country to take individual or collective self-defence actions.
Kim echoed Putin's statement explicitly linking their deepening ties to fighting the "hegemonic and imperialist" policies of the West and the United State in particular, including its support for Ukraine.

It is unclear how the agreement will affect Russia's war against Ukraine, which began with an invasion in February 2022.

Washington and Seoul have been increasingly alarmed by deepening military cooperation between Russia and the North, and have accused them of violating international laws by trading in arms for Russia to use against Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have said they have found North Korean missile debris inside their country. Russia and North Korea deny any arms trade.

"For all intents and purposes, this is a pact of military alliance," said Artyom Lukin, of Russia's Far Eastern Federal University. "This will be Moscow’s first defense alliance outside the post-Soviet space."

However, the strength of any alliance primarily lies not in what is written down, and a mutual defense clause does not mean automatic involvement in one another’s wars, he said.

"It remains to be seen how far and how deep Russia and North Korea will go in their alliance relationship this time," Lukin said. "Will North Korean troops appear in Ukraine? Will Russia provide military assistance to the North in possible North-South clashes over the disputed border in the Yellow Sea? Nothing is off the table now."

Cho Han-bum, of the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul, said the agreement was a big win for Russia, laying a legal framework for North Korea's support in the Ukraine war.

The wording leaves room for Moscow to avoid helping North Korea in border clashes or other future skirmishes if it chooses, he said.

PUTIN THANKS KIM FOR SUPPORT

On his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, Putin thanked Kim for the support for Russian policy. Kim reaffirmed "unconditional" and unwavering support for "all of Russia's policies" including Putin's SMO in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea face increasing international isolation, and the U.S. and its Asian allies are increasingly concerned about how much Russia will support North Korea, the only country to have tested a nuclear weapon this century.

The agreement said neither side would sign any treaty with a third country that infringes on the interests of the other and would not let its territory be used by any country to harm the other's security and sovereignty, KCNA said.

The two countries will take joint actions aimed at "strengthening defence capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security", it said.
South Korea regretted the agreement included a pledge of "military technology cooperation" which would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions on North Korea's weapons programs.

The White House did not immediately comment on the agreement's reported content.

Japan expressed "grave concerns" about Putin's vow not to rule out cooperation with Pyongyang on military technology.

The reaction from China, the North's main political and economic benefactor, has been muted. A spokesperson for China's foreign ministry declined comment, calling it a bilateral matter between Russia and North Korea.

Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak said Russia, a U.N. Security Council permanent member, had allowed "the most brazen nullification" of all sanctions imposed on North Korea to stop its weapons development.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the pact showed authoritarian powers were aligning.

Source

[Manny]

So it looks like Russia has decided that US sanctions are now defunct and NK is coming in from the cold. Long overdue in my opinion. I think we're seeing the start of a BRICS defensive alliance to counter NATO aggression.

Uncle Sam's representatives are wetting themselves all over the media about it as you'd expect. This is indeed the decline of US hegemony before our eyes. 

There's a video of Putin driving Kim about in a Russian Aurus luxury car, hanging out like bros. 

[B.B.]

LOL!  So  you think an alliance b/w Russia and the Pygmy Kingdom is Big News? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA!

NoKo's GDP is 25% of what SAMSUNG's annual revenue is. 

NoKo is one of the few places Putin can go and NOT be arrested as a war criminal.

You did a good job of making lemonade out of lemons here, but NOBODY is impressed with Little Fattie the Third as the Chinese call him.

B/B

[Manny]

LOL!  So  you think an alliance b/w Russia and the Pygmy Kingdom is Big News? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA!

NoKo's GDP is 25% of what SAMSUNG's annual revenue is. 

NoKo is one of the few places Putin can go and NOT be arrested as a war criminal.

You did a good job of making lemonade out of lemons here, but NOBODY is impressed with Little Fattie the Third as the Chinese call him.

B/B

Is that a bitter taste in your mouth there? 

[Texan77]

It shows how diminished Putin is. For twenty-four years Putin has not had the time of the day for North Korea. It is big news in North Korea as they have moved up in the world, but it shows how far Russia has dropped. Now North Korea is an equal that Russia is dependent on. Then he tops the trip off by going to Viet Nam. The real reason all this is happening is Russia is not really getting alone all so well with China or India. Yea they trade with him but they make sure it is very much to their advantage and support is very limited.

 

[B.B.]

Is that a bitter taste in your mouth there? 

Not at all.  We already have the "good" Korea. 

I hope Putin enjoyed the Bromance and his gifts of fan art and hunting dogs (no word if Kim also included recipes).  The best take was from Professor Konstantin Sonin, about the Mercedes ride with the 2 of them hanging out of the sunroof: "I cannot imagine a future Russia, in which this is not a deeply embarrassing photo."

One wonders if Lukashenko is feeling a bit neglected, insofar as he is Putin's only other friend. 

B/B

[Markje]

It shows how diminished Putin is. For twenty-four years Putin has not had the time of the day for North Korea. It is big news in North Korea as they have moved up in the world, but it shows how far Russia has dropped. Now North Korea is an equal that Russia is dependent on. Then he tops the trip off by going to Viet Nam. The real reason all this is happening is Russia is not really getting alone all so well with China or India. Yea they trade with him but they make sure it is very much to their advantage and support is very limited.

Nah, better make friends when its easy , no? Kim will remember and if someday they become a power to be, he will already be friends with them

[2tallbill]

LOL!  So  you think an alliance b/w Russia and the Pygmy Kingdom is Big News? HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA HAHAHA!

NoKo's GDP is 25% of what SAMSUNG's annual revenue is. 

NoKo is one of the few places Putin can go and NOT be arrested as a war criminal.

You did a good job of making lemonade out of lemons here, but NOBODY is impressed with Little Fattie the Third as the Chinese call him.

B/B

Surprisingly nobody in the alarmist/apoplectic Western press jumped to conclusions and decided that
the space/nuke element indicates Putin is going to share ICBM technology with the NK/Pillsbury doughboy.
Surely, they could bring in some retired generals and speculate what cities NK could target if their
rockets could hit anything further than 10 km away. Then they bring in some hand wringing scientists
and angry lesbian activists to explain how the mushroom clouds of NK would hurt the LGBTWAT
community the most.

[B.B.]

Nah, better make friends when its easy , no? Kim will remember and if someday they become a power to be, he will already be friends with them

I think he is trying to make do with the limited friends that he has, and thus he has to make a big show of...North Korea.  Really?  Did Putin feel like he has some credibility left that he needed to hemorrhage?  Eww. 

I almost felt badly for him, then I remembered he's a genocidal psycho, and didn't.

B/B

[B.B.]

Putin & Kim recreate image from the past...who wore it better? 

[Texan77]

What I think is really happening here is Russia wants to get North Korea to supply them with troops because they are losing so many soldiers. Russian prisons used to have 420 thousand people in them now down to 266 thousand. It is thought many of those died in Ukraine. It is hard to get more prisoners or people from other countries to join the Russian military so now he is trying to get north Korea to supply troops in mass as a way to be able to continue to fight the war. This could be important as it might end up being hundreds of thousand North Korean troops end up in Ukraine by sometime in 2025.

[B.B.]

What I think is really happening here is Russia wants to get North Korea to supply them with troops because they are losing so many soldiers. Russian prisons used to have 420 thousand people in them now down to 266 thousand. It is thought many of those died in Ukraine.

Once conscription hits Moscow and Piter, it is going to get to be tough to hide the bodies.

It is hard to get more prisoners or people from other countries to join the Russian military so now he is trying to get north Korea to supply troops in mass as a way to be able to continue to fight the war. This could be important as it might end up being hundreds of thousand North Korean troops end up in Ukraine by sometime in 2025.

Maybe yes, maybe no.  That would complicate things for the NoKos.  And it would expose Russia as weak and having to depend on foreign soldiers.  Putin doesn't have a "back down" plan he's got a "double down" plan, but I doubt such an escalation would not go without a counter from the West.

B/B

[rosco]

Once conscription hits Moscow and Piter, it is going to get to be tough to hide the bodies.

The problem with that theory, is that the Russian's are super patriotic and will happily sign up to fight against "the west". Sure thousands of dead sons isn't exactly a great PR campaign but Ukraine have already passed that junction. They'll run out of meat before the Moscow elites get anywhere close to being concerned.

Maybe yes, maybe no.  That would complicate things for the NoKos.  And it would expose Russia as weak and having to depend on foreign soldiers.  Putin doesn't have a "back down" plan he's got a "double down" plan, but I doubt such an escalation would not go without a counter from the West.

Or it strengthens their resolve and bonds the two countries forever. NK have been shafted just as much as Russia now anyway.

Russia have held up pretty well fighting a Ukrainian/foreign legioned NATO military (combined West) and with the cupboards getting empty, supply chains favouring Putin, UA civilians unwilling to fight and western voters getting ready for elections, whilst sick and tired of watching 100's of billions of dollars being shipped off to an ugly wee gruff bloke, who's always demanding more -  it's only a matter of time before the US pull the plug on it like they always do.

And why would Russia care if a couple of 100,000 NK soldiers joined the fight, given they're essentially fighting against the same thing? The entire west has rallied behind Ukraine so a pivot might well scare the sensible ones into discussions, involving peace rather than escalation.
 

[rosco]

What I think is really happening here is Russia wants.........

No Tex, this is just one of many elements happening under your nose, whereby a large proportion of the world doesn't want to be controlled or sanctioned by the US. The NK meeting was important because Russia now has more direct military support should they want it but this isn't about desperation. It's about the process of change.

See that hard power B/B loves talking about, well it might help bully people for a while but eventually those being bullied club together and make changes. The West talks about Putin making NATO stronger but what they intentionally dont tell people like you, is that NATO is also galvanising a new club offering their members protection, reducing western influence, or at least that ball is now rolling.

There's a growing club of countries who are now confident enough to hold state visits and meetings with Russia. It's a snow ball effect and it is happening. African leaders are turning to Russia for support, to stop CIA funded governments and militias from exporting cheap resources to the US and Macron is losing the plot because it's happening to the French too.

You're still here ranting about anti Russian fantasy when there's so much more on the table, than you'll ever be able to comprehend.

[2tallbill]

The problem with that theory, is that the Russian's are super patriotic and will happily sign up to fight against "the west". Sure thousands of dead sons isn't exactly a great PR campaign but Ukraine have already passed that junction. They'll run out of meat before the Moscow elites get anywhere close to being concerned.

This war is a meat grinder for both sides.

Smiley Girl and her friends are very, very, very afraid. They want Russia to win, but they
do not want to send their husbands, sons but NO they absolutely do not want to go
into that meat grinder.

Happily sign up? Smiley Girls experience is anecdotal, but I don't think anyone wants to
go into the war. Maybe that will change when civilians in Belgorod start dying.

[B.B.]

The problem with that theory, is that the Russian's are super patriotic and will happily sign up to fight against "the west".

Far be it from my to doubt the patriotism of the Sons of the Rodina, but if that was the case, wouldn't they be signing up NOW?  Instead it seems Putin is giving bonuses to broken Gopniks and training brown dudes in Syria (which Ukraine just hit).  Now he may need NoKo soldiers. 

I get it that you have to put the best face on it that you can, but really....

Sure thousands of dead sons isn't exactly a great PR campaign but Ukraine have already passed that junction. They'll run out of meat before the Moscow elites get anywhere close to being concerned.

Ukrainians are fighting on their own land.  They got INVITED into Mr. Putin's little war.  You are assuming KIAs at the same rate, which does not appear to be the case.  And saying "Oh, but Ukraine is lying about..." yeah, well so is Russia.  It does appear that the Ukrainians are lying less...

Or it strengthens their resolve and bonds the two countries forever. NK have been shafted just as much as Russia now anyway.

Riiiiiiight.  Got any bridges for sale?

Russia have held up pretty well fighting a Ukrainian/foreign legioned NATO military (combined West) and with the cupboards getting empty, supply chains favouring Putin, UA civilians unwilling to fight and western voters getting ready for elections, whilst sick and tired of watching 100's of billions of dollars being shipped off to an ugly wee gruff bloke, who's always demanding more -  it's only a matter of time before the US pull the plug on it like they always do.

Some truth there, but mostly pipe dreams. 

At this point, Russia's best hope is that Trump (a) gets elected and (b) forces a peace on both parties that let's Putin keep Crimea.  It does seem that the current administration is bringing a lot of things under the NATO umbrella which will mute the effect of a (hypothetical) Trump victory.

Also, any deal that Trump tries to make may not be palatable to one or both sides, in which case he may simply put his foot on the gas.  We'll see.

And why would Russia care if a couple of 100,000 NK soldiers joined the fight, given they're essentially fighting against the same thing? The entire west has rallied behind Ukraine so a pivot might well scare the sensible ones into discussions, involving peace rather than escalation.

I think NATO likely doesn't tolerate 100K NoKos in a European conflict.  But let's wait until it happens. 

You are being quite Pollyannish about the current situation.

B/B

[rosco]

This war is a meat grinder for both sides.

It's horrific yet land and political dick waving seems to be more important than life.

[rosco]

Far be it from my to doubt the patriotism of the Sons of the Rodina, but if that was the case, wouldn't they be signing up NOW?

Russia have had recruitment drives over the last couple years and have met their quota's quickly and easily, without dramatically changing entry requirements or kidnapping people off streets, in front of their kids. People want to fight and there is no shortage of takers.

Instead it seems Putin is giving bonuses to broken Gopniks and training brown dudes in Syria (which Ukraine just hit).  Now he may need NoKo soldiers. 

I get it that you have to put the best face on it that you can, but really....

Yes Russia have been using private contractors, minorities, prisoners and foreign sign ups but why not? It's an attritional conflict being further drawn out by Western support, with many battles becoming meat grinders. Why wouldn't you use people willing to go first? Behind the scenes Russia are properly training their own new draft of soldiers and they'll be up to speed when Ukraine are sending disabled boys and pregnant women.

Why is your face so 'brave'?

It does appear that the Ukrainians are lying less...

  Of course they are B/B. Winning on social media and MSM since the very beginning.......

At this point, Russia's best hope is that Trump (a) gets elected and (b) forces a peace on both parties that let's Putin keep Crimea.  It does seem that the current administration is bringing a lot of things under the NATO umbrella which will mute the effect of a (hypothetical) Trump victory.

Also, any deal that Trump tries to make may not be palatable to one or both sides, in which case he may simply put his foot on the gas.  We'll see.

I've said it from the beginning but Russia cant afford to lose this one whilst the west has many irons in the fire, needing resources thrown at it. They'll stick it out until the western freebies dry up or until there are no more men to kill/willing to die and then it'll all be over. We cant keep sending what we have, it's impossible and the people won't accept it.

The truth about the "unprovoked invasion" has already started to widen its circle. Farage brought it up in an interview this week and the establishment jumped all over him. He then inconveniently pointed out some of the same people, saying the same things a decade ago.....

Trump talks about ending the killing tomorrow. My guess is that he'll tell Russia to keep the "ethnic/pro Russian" regions they already have and threaten to scale it up if they dont accept. Ukraine and its regime will be told take it or leave it, they need the US support to carry on the fight. If Donbas and Crimea really want to be Ukrainian, time will give them what they want through political means.

My opinion of course......

I think NATO likely doesn't tolerate 100K NoKos in a European conflict.  But let's wait until it happens. 

Hang on isn't NATO a defensive alliance offering protection to its contributing members? Neither Russia or Ukraine are NATO members, why would they get involved in a war between two countries who have noting to do with them........oh yea.....that was just their slogan and there was that pesky regime change, NATO membership and failed Minsk agreement stuff!! 

[Markje]

This war is a meat grinder for both sides.

It's horrific yet land and political dick waving seems to be more important than life.

^^^^^ Tex pay attention, here's exactly how I think about this war.

[Texan77]

Putin visits north Korea. There is a fall out. It appears Russia is wanting to help North Korea out military to help make the USA weaker. South Korea is not very happy about this. South Korea is the world's 5th largest weapons exporter. Unlike Europe or the USA, South Korea has been more prepared for a war and able to ramp up weapons production much faster. Now South Korea is getting ready to support Ukraine. Russia is threatening them if they do but it does not appear South Korea is paying any attention. Some people here in the west are calling Putin's trip a big mistake for the Russian war effort. Only time will tell. 

I read first unit of North Korean troops will be in Ukraine shortly. It will be an engineering group. No one seems to know how they deployed and what their function in Ukraine will be yet or if other troops will soon follow.

[andrewfi]

Somebody has not been doing the learning - again.

The mutual assistance element of the recent agreement between North Korea amd Russia does not apply in the current situation. It only applies in the case of. declared state of war.

South Korea has been busily exporting materiel for use in Ukraine for ages. They just chose not to do so directly. Now, if the choose, they can sell directly to Ukraine. Before Korea used the fiction of supplying, for example, the US with APCs. The US would then deliver to Ukraine the same number and type of equipment. The equipment supplied to Ukraine was not supposedly the same items (serial numbers etc), now it can be.
It's a distinction without a difference.

[rosco]

Putin visits north Korea. There is a fall out. It appears Russia is wanting to help North Korea out military to help make the USA weaker. South Korea is not very happy about this. South Korea is the world's 5th largest weapons exporter. Unlike Europe or the USA, South Korea has been more prepared for a war and able to ramp up weapons production much faster. Now South Korea is getting ready to support Ukraine. Russia is threatening them if they do but it does not appear South Korea is paying any attention. Some people here in the west are calling Putin's trip a big mistake for the Russian war effort. Only time will tell. 

I read first unit of North Korean troops will be in Ukraine shortly. It will be an engineering group. No one seems to know how they deployed and what their function in Ukraine will be yet or if other troops will soon follow.

It would be incredibly useful if you could start to link the articles you read and then post about, otherwise we don't know if you're making things up or not. Vetting your source allows us to understand the quality and credibility of your information and then fact check the source to see if they're making it up or not.

Because if I'm honest, I think you talk absolute jobbies.

[B.B.]

It's an attritional conflict being further drawn out by Western support, with many battles becoming meat grinders. Why wouldn't you use people willing to go first? Behind the scenes Russia are properly training their own new draft of soldiers and they'll be up to speed when Ukraine are sending disabled boys and pregnant women.

Why wouldn't they have an actual trained army to start with?

Why is your face so 'brave'?

Hey, it's not me who has to explain why the (alleged!) bad ass Russian Army is failing so badly.

I've said it from the beginning but Russia cant afford to lose this one

They may not be able to afford to win it...or to keep it going (after some time.) 

They'll stick it out until the western freebies dry up or until there are no more men to kill/willing to die and then it'll all be over. We cant keep sending what we have, it's impossible and the people won't accept it.

We'll see.

Trump talks about ending the killing tomorrow. My guess is that he'll tell Russia to keep the "ethnic/pro Russian" regions they already have and threaten to scale it up if they dont accept. Ukraine and its regime will be told take it or leave it, they need the US support to carry on the fight. If Donbas and Crimea really want to be Ukrainian, time will give them what they want through political means.

My opinion of course......

it may look smth like that.  But the "Trump is a Russian stooge" story is played out.  We'll see.  He has to win the election first.  I hope he does, because he was a better president and will be better for the country.  He may tell Putin he has "X" days to finish the war/back off, or else.  Uknown at this point.

Hang on isn't NATO a defensive alliance offering protection to its contributing members?

NATO is not obligated to wait to blunt possible threats, which Russia 100% is, based on their past history.  Putin wants to recreate the USSR, and if we bleed Russia out in Ukraine we don't have to deal with them invading the Baltics and the Visegrad nations, etc., which WOULD trigger war with NATO.

Would it not have been better to snuff out the NAZIs BEFORE they became so strong it took most of the civilized world to defeat them?

B/B

[Manny]

It's an attritional conflict being further drawn out by Western support, with many battles becoming meat grinders. Why wouldn't you use people willing to go first? Behind the scenes Russia are properly training their own new draft of soldiers and they'll be up to speed when Ukraine are sending disabled boys and pregnant women.

Why wouldn't they have an actual trained army to start with?

For the same reason they used old Soviet weapons the last two years and not much of their modern stuff. It's the same reason you eat the oldest tin of beans in the cupboard first. You're a bright bloke, you know this, but in this instance, you're blinded by all that exceptionalism or whatever we call it nowadays.

Now pay attention, here is what is going on here:

It's about the process of change.

See that hard power B/B loves talking about, well it might help bully people for a while but eventually, those being bullied club together and make changes. The West talks about Putin making NATO stronger but what they intentionally don't tell people like you, is that NATO is also galvanising a new club offering their members protection, reducing Western influence, or at least that the ball is now rolling.

There's a growing club of countries that are now confident enough to hold state visits and meetings with Russia. It's a snowball effect and it is happening. African leaders are turning to Russia for support, to stop CIA-funded governments and militias from exporting cheap resources to the US and Macron is losing the plot because it's happening to the French too.

You're still here ranting about anti-Russian fantasy when there's so much more on the table than you'll ever be able to comprehend.

This is the process of cancelling US sanctions, reducing US influence, and relegating the US to a regional power in a multipolar world before your eyes. The Ukraine conflict is one of the last we'll see as the BRICS and others form new alliances like this. This is what the de-dollarisation I often talk about feeds into. All part of the process.

Another two US-funded coups recently failed. Taiwan might still happen but that won't be any victory either.

I've been saying this a long time:

As I have often said, the US will go down kicking, screaming and lashing out. Meanwhile, China and Russia are making friends and investing abroad.

Ukraine is the US lashing out, and failing as usual. Hopefully, it will be one of the last we see. Trump might be bright enough to make a deal that Russia can accept that allows the US a face-saving exit from the shit show they started.

[2tallbill]

Another two US-funded coups recently failed. Taiwan might still happen but that won't be any victory either.

Taiwan might be a US coup? or did I misunderstand what you are saying?