North Korea and Russia have agreed to provide military assistance immediately if either country is invaded. This clause, which can be interpreted as “automatic military intervention,” signifies that the two nations have revitalized their alliance after 28 years.
On June. 20., the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) published the full text of the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty,” which North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed in Pyongyang the previous day.
Article 4 of the treaty specifies, “In the event that either party is invaded by one or more states and enters a state of war, the other party shall, without delay and in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and the laws of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation, provide military and other assistance with all means at its disposal.” Article 51 of the UN Charter grants UN member states the right to individual and collective self-defense in the event of an armed attack.
Earlier, media outlets in both countries did not reveal the treaty’s specifics but reported that Kim and Putin had signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. Kim described it as an “alliance,” while Putin, without using the term “alliance,” stated that they would “mutually support each other in case of aggression.”
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov characterized the clause as being for “purely defensive purposes and goals,” asserting that “only those who intend to invade either Russia or North Korea would oppose it.”
“We are very satisfied with the outcome of President Putin’s visit to North Korea,” said Ri Yong Jin, Deputy First Secretary of the DPRK Embassy in Russia. “We will further strengthen strategic communication with Russia amid the challenging international situation and will always unconditionally support all political directives from the Russian leadership.”
