Bilateral meeting | Kim assures Putin of support for Ukraine and signs mutual defense pact

(Seoul) North Korea and Russia signed a mutual defense agreement on Wednesday in the event of “aggression”, announced Russian President Vladimir Putin who, welcomed with great fanfare in Pyongyang, received the full support of his host Kim Jong-un for his war against Ukraine.

“The Comprehensive Partnership Treaty signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against any part of the treaty,” Putin told reporters after signing the document.

“Both Russia and Korea pursue independent foreign policies and do not accept the language of blackmail and diktat,” he added, in a clear warning to the West.

The Russian president called the agreement a “truly revolutionary document,” adding that Russia “does not rule out military-technical cooperation” with Pyongyang for itself.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said the agreement was “exclusively peaceful and defensive.” Describing Mr. Putin as his country’s “best friend,” he welcomed the advent of a “new era” in relations with Moscow.

North Korea “expresses its full support and solidarity with the Russian government, army and people in conducting the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity,” he said to his guest.

“We very much appreciate your systematic and permanent support for Russian policy, including on the Ukrainian issue,” Mr. Putin said in return.

Red carpet and dances

The Russian president was welcomed with a red carpet and a grand ceremony at Kim Il-sung Square, complete with a military band and synchronized dancing. He then held talks for an hour and a half alongside his delegation with the North Korean leader, followed by an aside. He invited Kim Jong-un to visit Moscow.

This strengthening of relations between the two countries is causing concern in Seoul and Washington.

The United States and its allies have accused North Korea of ​​supplying munitions and missiles to Russia for its war in Ukraine, and fear Mr Putin’s visit could lead to further deliveries.

This is Vladimir Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years and the second meeting between the two men in less than a year. In September 2023, Kim Jong-un traveled by armored train to the Russian Far East for a summit with the head of the Kremlin.

Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since the end of the Korean War (1950-1953), but have become closer since the Russian military operation launched in Ukraine in 2022.

“Russia needs North Korea’s support in weapons due to the protracted war in Ukraine, while North Korea needs Russia’s support in food, energy and advanced weapons to ease the pressure of sanctions,” Koh Yu-hwan, professor emeritus of North Korean studies at Dongguk University, told AFP.

“The issue of the military alliance, however, must be considered separately from what is publicly announced and what is actually discussed during the meetings between the two leaders,” he said, adding that Moscow remained cautious and did not want to not “completely burn bridges with countries like South Korea”.

Western concerns

Americans and Europeans have been worried for months about the accelerated rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang, accusing the North Koreans of massively delivering munitions and missiles to Russia.

In exchange, according to Washington and Seoul, Russia provided North Korea with expertise for its satellite program and sent aid to deal with the country’s food shortages.

In March, Russia used its veto at the UN Security Council to end monitoring of international sanctions violations targeting North Korea, a major gift to Pyongyang. Mr. Putin hit the nail on the head on Wednesday by affirming that these sanctions “inspired by the United States and its allies” must be “reexamined”.

Vladimir Putin’s support allows Kim Jong-un to “lessen his dependence” on another key ally, Beijing, Vladimir Tikhonov, professor of Korean studies at the University of Korea, told AFP. ‘Oslo.

Meanwhile, the Russian president is “getting secure access to Soviet-style artillery shells that he needs in huge quantities today,” he added.

This state visit is a way for Mr. Putin to thank North Korea “for fulfilling the role of an ‘arsenal for autocracy’ by supporting its illegal invasion of Ukraine,” said Leif-Eric Easley. , professor at Ewha University in Seoul.