Moscow witnessed the exchange of ratification instruments on Wednesday, bringing into force the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” that North Korea and Russia’s leaders had agreed upon in June, according to Thursday’s report from North Korea’s KCNA news agency.
During a summit with North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s June visit to Pyongyang, they inked a treaty that includes a mutual defense pact, allowing for immediate military assistance in the event of either country facing armed aggression.
Pyongyang’s increasing involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, which has seen over 10,000 North Korean troops deployed to engage in combat with Russia, coincided with Putin’s visit and the agreement to enhance military cooperation between the two countries.
North Korea has sent thousands of containers of ammunition, mobile howitzers, and rocket launchers, but neither country has acknowledged the shipment or deployment of these weapons.
