Russia wants to work more closely with North Korea. To this end, there is a treaty that President Putin and North Korean leader Kim want to sign personally. The content is still unknown.
Immediately before his visit to North Korea, Russian President Vladimir Putin praised the isolated state for its help in the fight against Ukraine.
Putin wrote in an article for the official North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun that they appreciate North Korea’s “steadfast support” for “Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine” and solidarity on important international issues. According to the Kremlin, both countries want to sign a comprehensive cooperation agreement.
Putin has now arrived in North Korea. The Kremlin chief was received at the airport by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, reported the Russian news agency Interfax.
In the North Korean capital, the streets were decorated with portraits of the Kremlin chief and Russian flags. The main part of the visit begins on Wednesday. The day begins with a meeting between the two heads of state on Kim Il Sung Square, the urban and symbolic center of Pyongyang. After that, long negotiations are planned, first just the two of them, then on a larger scale. In addition to several meals together, a wreath-laying ceremony and a joint concert are also planned. It is Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years and also a return visit after Kim was in Russia in September.
Moscow’s close ties to Pyongyang
Moscow maintains close contacts with North Korea. According to Western information, the communist-ruled country, which is subject to international sanctions because of its nuclear weapons program, supplies artillery ammunition and missiles to Russia, which uses them against Ukraine. From the perspective of the USA and its allies, this would be a serious violation of the UN Security Council’s sanctions resolutions against North Korea. They suspect that in return North Korea could receive key military technologies from Russia in addition to food and other aid.
In recent months, North Korea has illegally delivered dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of ammunition, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said on Monday (local time). “We believe that the deepening of cooperation between Russia and the People’s Republic (North Korea) is something that should cause great concern among all those interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, maintaining the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, complying with UN Security Council resolutions and, of course, supporting the people of Ukraine who are defending their freedom against Russia’s invasion.” Russia began its war of aggression against Ukraine more than two years ago.
The United States and South Korea, which North Korea considers to be hostile states, have repeatedly warned against military cooperation between North Korea and Russia. Both countries have denied accusations of doing arms deals with each other.
Comprehensive cooperation agreement
Moscow said that Putin had approved a draft of the Foreign Ministry’s planned treaty with North Korea. The document was to be signed at the highest level, i.e. by Putin and the North Korean leader. No details were given about the content of the treaty. At their meeting in September, both sides had emphasized their willingness to deepen cooperation – specifically in the military-technical field.
Putin now wrote in “Rodong Sinmun” that North Korea is “a staunch and like-minded supporter” who is ready to counter the West’s efforts to prevent a multipolar world order. Russia and North Korea will jointly build the security architecture in Eurasia, counter Western sanctions and establish independent transaction systems. Both sides are committed to working closely together, said the Russian president. “To this end, we will develop alternative mechanisms for trade and mutual trade and settlement mechanisms that are not controlled by the West.”
With regard to the visit, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg made it clear how important he considers the expansion of cooperation between the Atlantic military alliance and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Putin’s visit to North Korea shows and confirms the very close connection between Russia and authoritarian states such as North Korea, but also China and Iran, Stoltenberg said at a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington. These states supported Russia’s war aggression against Ukraine and fueled it. “This also shows that our security is not regional. It is global.”
According to the US government, the visit is a cause for great concern. “The deepening cooperation between Russia and North Korea is something that should worry everyone who is interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean peninsula, but also in supporting the Ukrainian people who continue to fight against Russian aggression,” said US Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder in Washington.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre made similar comments. She said that the supply of weapons from North Korea had helped Russia to wage its brutal war in Ukraine. No country in the world should support Russia’s aggression. The country was blatantly violating the UN Charter and trying to undermine the international system.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
