Putin And Kim Jong Un Sign Mutual Defense Deal—Here’s What To Know

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un after signing the strategic cooperation treaty

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin inked a deal Wednesday agreeing to aid each other in the event of an attack on either country, signaling the growing closeness between the two leaders as their regimes battle a bevy of international sanctions.

KEY FACTS

Putin said the so-called comprehensive strategic partnership treaty provides “among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty,” the Russian state-run agency TASS reported.

The Russian leader compared the agreement with efforts by the U.S. and other NATO nations to send long-range weapons and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine to carry out strikes on Russian territory—and claimed those actions were a “gross violation” of various international obligations.

The treaty calls for cooperation between the two countries in the “political, trade, investment, cultural, humanitarian and security spheres,” however, Putin refused to rule out potential military-technical cooperation with North Korea.

The Russian president also demanded a review of UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea, which technically prevent weapons transfers between the two countries.

The North Korean leader also hailed the new strategic treaty, saying it is a “purely peaceful and defensive document.”

CRUCIAL QUOTE

Earlier on Wednesday, Kim delivered his most explicit public statement supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine: “The government of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea ... expresses its full support and solidarity with the Russian government, Army and people in conducting the special military operation in Ukraine with a view to protecting sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity.”

CHIEF CRITIC

On Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken commented on Putin’s visit to North Korea and said: “We’ve seen…Russia try, in desperation, to develop and to strengthen relations with countries that can provide it with what it needs to continue the war of aggression that it started against Ukraine…North Korea is providing significant munitions to Russia and other weapons for use in Ukraine…we’ll continue to do everything we can to cut off the support that countries like Iran and North Korea are providing.”

KEY BACKGROUND

Putin’s visit to North Korea for a summit meeting with Kim was his first to the country in 24 years. The trip and the new agreement come amid growing U.S. concerns about North Korea supplying weapons to help with Putin’s Ukraine war efforts in exchange for military technology transfers. While both Pyongyang and Moscow have dismissed accusations about North Korean weapons being used in Ukraine, such sales would directly contravene UN Security Council sanctions. In March, Russia used its UNSC veto to block monitoring of North Korea’s nuclear program—prompting allegations from the U.S. and its allies that Moscow was working with Pyongyang to evade sanctions.

SURPRISING FACT

Among the gifts exchanged by the two leaders at the summit was a new limousine made by Russian luxury car maker Aurus that Putin gifted Kim. In February, Kim received a luxury car made by the same maker from Putin for “personal use.” Seoul’s Unification Ministry and Foreign Ministry claimed the gift was likely a violation of UNSC resolutions banning the transfer or sale of luxury items to North Korea.