Pyongyang (North Korea). The US has been angered by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea. Several important agreements have also been signed between Putin and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un. The most important of these is the security agreement. Under the new security agreement, if a third country were to attack North Korea or Russia, Moscow and Pyongyang would help each other. This agreement between Russia and North Korea has not only given the US sleepless nights, but has also increased the concern of Washington’s allies like South Korea and Japan.
President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un have signed a new pact amid rising tensions with the West between Russia and North Korea. This included a promise of mutual aid if any of their countries were attacked. However, there is no clarity on what kind of aid is mentioned in the deal. It is simply known as ‘Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’. The agreement was signed during Putin’s first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years. North Korea is reportedly arming Moscow in its war against Ukraine, which has led many Western countries to impose sanctions on both countries. Russia is also helping North Korea develop its nuclear and missile weapons programs.
What did the two leaders say?
According to the Russian news agency TASS, Putin said, ‘Russia will not refuse to develop military-technical cooperation with North Korea.’ At the same time, according to RIA Novosti, Kim Jong Un said that the agreement was peaceful and for self-defense. The North Korean leader further said that he has no doubt that he will be a driving force to accelerate the creation of a new multipolar world. Russian state media reported that the two countries also signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of healthcare, medical education and science.
Economic and military agreements
The two-day summit between Putin and Kim Jong Un was aimed at strengthening their economic and military powers to counter ‘illegal’ sanctions by Putin against the two countries. Putin thanked Kim Jong Un for supporting North Korea in the war in Ukraine and for being part of “the fight against the imperialist policies of the US and its satellites against the Russian Federation”.
Tags: International news, North Korea, Russian news
First published: June 19, 2024, 17:02 IST