North Korea, Russia defence pact goes active

A landmark defence pact between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, has gone into effect after the two sides exchanged ratification documents.

North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, right, chats with Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, left, at a banquet in Pyongyang.

A landmark defence pact between North Korea and Russia, signed by its leaders in June, has gone into effect after the two sides exchanged ratification documents, North Korea’s official KCNA news agency said.

The formalisation of the treaty comes as the US and South Korea have accused the North of sending more than 10,000 soldiers to help Russia in Ukraine.

Experts say North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is keen to acquire advanced technology from Moscow and battle experience for his troops in return.

Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the strategic partnership deal during the Kremlin chief’s visit to Pyongyang. It obligates both states to provide military assistance “without delay” in the case of an attack on the other, and to jointly oppose Western sanctions.

It came into effect from Wednesday, when the ratification documents were exchanged in Moscow by the countries’ vice foreign ministers Kim Jong Gyu and Andrei Rudenko.

Politicians in Moscow last month voted unanimously for the deal and it was later signed by Putin. Pyongyang said it was ratified by a decree from Kim.

The treaty will serve “as a strong driving force accelerating the establishment of an independent and just multi-polarised world order,” KCNA said.

AFP