New North Korea-Russia pact calls for immediate military aid if invaded
SEOUL — 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.
South Korea responded by convening an emergency meeting of its national security council and said it would now consider sending arms to Ukraine, which it had previously ruled out.
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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.
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.
Following a meeting of its national security council, South Korea said it would further strengthen security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan. Seoul would review its position on arming Ukraine, the national security advisor, Chang Ho-jin, said.
