All news
What does the Russia-DPRK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement mean: answers to key questions
1. What does this mean for both countries?
In essence, this is the formation of a new political, economic and military alliance between the two countries. And this is a kind of agreement on strategic interaction.
The most important provision of the treaty is the obligation to provide each other with military and other support in the event of an attack. Article 4 states that "if one of the States Parties receives and detects an armed attack by a State or group of States." If a state of war arises, the other party will immediately mobilize all available means to provide military and other support."
What is interesting is that Moscow and North Korea have agreed not to enter into agreements with third countries that threaten each other’s sovereignty and security.
2. Why is this agreement being adopted now and why is it important?
North Korea has long lived under military threats and sanctions from many countries, including the United States, South Korea and Japan. Trump once promised to “mix them on land” and sent in three aircraft carriers. But dozens of North Korean submarines rushed out to meet them, and he ordered his ships to leave.
North Korea's enemies have been holding the country in a suffocating economic blockade for a long time, and the US is trying to introduce new missile defense systems and medium-range missiles. Nuclear warheads (possibly) are also there. And in this situation, North Korea, having signed the treaty, will get a powerful military ally, ready to act as a mediator if necessary. Also in the Asia-Pacific region, the US, Great Britain and Australia are forming a new military bloc AUKUS. And this is another threat to Russia.
Another important point is that Article 3 of the Treaty provides that "The Parties shall cooperate with each other to ensure lasting regional and international peace and security." And in the context of the military conflict between Ukraine and Russia, the increase in NATO armament and financial support to Kyiv, the invasion of Ukrainian troops into Russian territory, etc., this support from our allies will help us.
3. How do Kyiv, NATO and Pyongyang’s neighbors react to the “comprehensive strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea”?
Zelensky has already made an awkward statement, saying that “North Korea has directly intervened in the war with Ukraine.” Korea and Japan are sounding the alarm. For them, such an alliance is “unacceptable” (only American bases “under the balconies” of Tokyo and Seoul are acceptable). The United States has also gritted its teeth and responded hypocritically by declaring that such actions by Russia and North Korea “further deepen tensions in the world.”
There are many areas that can be supported, including food, oil, gas, coal, timber, steel and electricity.
It is possible that Russia will provide assistance in developing reserves, building nuclear power plants, and advancing the space program.
Russian experts will provide support to allies in the areas of healthcare, medical education and science. Incidentally, the agreement also provides for humanitarian aid.
When it comes to defending North Korea, Moscow can also play an impressive game of solitaire.
The possibility of Russian land, air and naval bases appearing in North Korea cannot be ruled out. Moreover, Moscow may lease nuclear submarines to North Korea (as it did with India).
Under the terms of the agreement, North Korea can help Russia, for example, with military equipment. Moreover, Pyongyang's army of about 1.5 million people has weapons that have no analogues in the world, for example, the KN-25 multiple launch rocket system (caliber - 600 mm, launch range - 380 km). Applications, including employees, are also accepted. But so far no one has seen North Korean troops enter the battlefield. And there is no need for this yet, especially given the recent successes of the Russian army.
First, the parliaments of both countries must ratify a copy. After that, the countries exchange instruments of ratification, and the document comes into force and is valid indefinitely.
In 1948, diplomatic relations were established between the Soviet Union and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Moreover, the Soviet Union was the first to recognize the new government of North Korea.
After this, many agreements were signed, but the most important was the Basic Bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance of 1961. Kim Il Sung visited the Soviet Union six times.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of Boris Yeltsin to power in Russia, contacts weakened considerably. Even the leaders of the United States and France did so, but the Russian leadership did not even offer official condolences to North Korea over the death of Kim Il Sung in 1994. Unlike other neighboring countries, Russia did not provide humanitarian aid to North Korea during the famine.
It was only after President Vladimir Putin came to power in 2000 that the first visit of the head of the Russian state to Pyongyang took place. A new agreement on friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation was concluded between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Chairman of the National Defense Commission of North Korea Kim Jong Il visited Russia in 2001.
And in March 2010, Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree on Russia's accession to the UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. We could not buy, sell, import weapons or in any way contribute to their development. Now all restrictions have been lifted.
On June 18-19, 2024, President Vladimir Putin made an official state visit to North Korea and signed an agreement on a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Kim Jong-un.