North Korea Demands Military Aid from Putin in Case of Conflict North Korea has issued a statement declaring that its recent agreement with Russia, signed during the visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to Pyongyang, includes a provision for immediate military assistance in the event of war. According to a spokesman for the North Korean Foreign Ministry, the “mutual assistance” clause in the agreement commits both countries to providing military support to the other if either is attacked by a third party. The spokesman emphasized that this assistance would be immediate and unconditional, regardless of who initiates the conflict. The statement comes amidst heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula, with North Korea continuing to develop its nuclear and missile programs despite international condemnation and sanctions. The United States and South Korea have conducted joint military exercises in the region, which North Korea has denounced as a provocation. Analysts believe that the agreement with Russia is a significant development that could escalate tensions further. Putin’s visit to Pyongyang was seen as a sign of support for North Korea, which has been increasingly isolated in recent years. The military assistance provision could embolden North Korea to engage in more aggressive actions, knowing that it has Russia’s backing. The United States has expressed concern over the agreement, warning that it could lead to an arms race in the region. South Korea has also condemned the pact, accusing North Korea of seeking to undermine stability on the peninsula. The full extent of the military assistance that Russia would provide to North Korea is unclear. However, analysts speculate that it could include weapons systems, military equipment, and even troops. If North Korea were to initiate a conflict on the peninsula, the involvement of Russia could significantly complicate the situation and increase the potential for a wider regional conflict.“`html“`html

North Korean state media says the new agreement between Russia and North Korea reached by their leaders requires the countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war.

By

++++KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press

June 19, 2024, 9:49 pm ET

•4 minutes of reading

SEOUL, South Korea – The new agreement between Russia and North Korea reached by their leaders at a summit in Pyongyang requires both countries to use all available means to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war, state media said Thursday. North Korea.

Both North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Russia’s Vladimir Putin described the deal reached Wednesday as a major improvement in bilateral relations, spanning security, trade, investment, cultural and humanitarian ties. ++Outside observers said it could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported Thursday on the language of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. ++The agency said Article 4 of the agreement states that if one of the countries is invaded and pushed into a state of war, the other must deploy “all means at its disposal without delay” to provide “military and other assistance.”.

The summit between Kim and Putin came as the United States and its allies expressed growing concern about a possible arms deal in which Pyongyang would provide Moscow with much-needed munitions for its war in Ukraine, in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could increase the threat posed. ++over Kim’s nuclear weapons and missile program.

After their summit, Kim said the two countries had a “fiery friendship” and that the agreement was their “strongest treaty to date,” placing the relationship at the level of an alliance. ++He pledged full support for Russia’s war in Ukraine. ++Putin called it a “revolutionary document” that reflects shared desires to take relations to a higher level.

North Korea and the former Soviet Union signed a treaty in 1961, which experts said required Moscow’s military intervention if the North was attacked. ++The agreement was scrapped after the collapse of the USSR and replaced by one in 2000 that offered weaker security guarantees.

After the meeting between Kim and Putin, South Korean officials said they were still interpreting the results of the summit, including what Russia’s response might be if the North is attacked and whether the new agreement promises a level of protection similar to the treaty.+ 1961. South Korean officials did not immediately comment on the North Korean report on the details of the agreement until Thursday morning.

“For now, there is nothing specific we can tell you,” said Lee Kyung-ho, spokesman for Seoul’s Defense Ministry, when asked during a briefing whether he assesses that Russia has committed to making an automatic military invention on behalf of from North. ++in war situations.

The deal was reached as Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years, a visit that showcased his personal and geopolitical ties with Kim hugging Putin twice at the airport, his motorcade passing giant Russian flags and portraits of Putin, and a welcome ceremony. + in Pyongyang’s main square attended by what appeared to be tens of thousands of spectators.

According to KCNA, the agreement also states that Pyongyang and Moscow must not enter into agreements with third parties if they infringe on the “core interests” of another and must not engage in actions that threaten those interests.

KCNA said the agreements require countries to take steps to prepare joint measures to strengthen their defense capabilities to prevent war and protect regional and global peace and security. ++The agency did not specify what those steps are or whether they would include combined military training and other cooperation.

The agreement also requires the countries to actively cooperate in efforts to establish a “just and multipolar new world order,” KCNA said, underscoring how the countries are aligning in the face of their separate and growing confrontations with the United States.

In recent months, Kim has made Russia his priority as he pushes a foreign policy aimed at expanding relations with countries that confront Washington, embracing the idea of a ​​”new Cold War” and trying to show a united front in the Putin’s broader conflicts with the West.

Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years, with the pace of Kim’s weapons tests and combined military exercises involving the United States, South Korea and Japan intensifying in a tit-for-tat cycle. +.

The two Koreas have also engaged in Cold War-style psychological warfare, with North Korea dropping tons of garbage on the South with balloons and the South broadcasting anti-North Korean propaganda with its loudspeakers.

“`North Korea Demands Military Aid from Russia in Putin-Kim Deal North Korea has issued a statement demanding immediate military assistance from Russia if it faces war, citing a recent deal between President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. According to the statement, the agreement includes a provision for Russia to provide military assistance to North Korea in the event of an attack or threat of attack. North Korea has not specified what form of assistance it expects. The statement follows a meeting between Putin and Kim in Moscow earlier this month. The two leaders discussed the situation on the Korean Peninsula and other regional security issues. The agreement has raised concerns among international observers, who worry that it could lead to an escalation of tensions in the region. The United States has previously condemned North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, and has vowed to defend its allies in the region. South Korea has also expressed concern over the deal, calling on both Russia and North Korea to refrain from any actions that could worsen the situation. Russia has not publicly commented on North Korea’s demand for military assistance. However, in the past, Russia has expressed support for North Korea’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The latest developments come amid ongoing negotiations between the United States and North Korea over the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. The talks have been stalled in recent months, and there is concern that the latest agreement between Russia and North Korea could further complicate the situation.