Putin plans military pact with North Korea amid Ukraine war
Vladimir Putin has submitted a draft bill to the Russian parliament regarding the ratification of a strategic partnership with North Korea. This document includes a key provision on "military assistance," which the media associates with reports of plans to send North Korean soldiers to Ukraine.
8:42 AM EDT, October 15, 2024
Russian media reported on the submission of the draft to the State Duma. The "comprehensive strategic partnership" agreement with Pyongyang was signed by Putin in June during his visit to North Korea.
The media highlight the fourth point of the agreement, which refers to "military assistance." This point stipulates that if one side becomes the target of aggression and enters a state of war, the other side "will promptly provide it with military assistance and other support using all available means."
Furthermore, suppose there is a direct threat of armed aggression against one of the sides. In that case, the parties pledge to "promptly activate bilateral channels to conduct consultations, coordinate positions, and agree on possible actions for mutual assistance."
Obligations concerning sovereignty
The draft includes obligations for providing mutual military assistance in the event of undermining the sovereignty of one of the sides, including military assault, emphasizing the Interfax agency.
Independent media highlight the document in the context of reports about the possibility of sending North Korean soldiers to Ukraine to fight alongside Russia.
According to intelligence information from Ukraine and South Korea, "several thousand" North Korean soldiers are currently being trained in Russia and could be sent to the front before the end of the year.
The situation in occupied territories
Ukrainian intelligence sources confirmed that North Korean officers were present in the occupied territories of Ukraine. On October 5th, six North Korean officers were killed in a missile attack near Donetsk.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in his address Monday evening, stated that "North Korea has indeed joined the war." He did not provide further details.
The day before, Zelensky noted the tightening relations between Moscow and Pyongyang. “It is no longer just about transferring weapons. It is actually about transferring people from North Korea to the occupying military forces,” said the Ukrainian president.
"Thousands of soldiers from North Korea are undergoing training in Russia, and these units will likely be deployed in Ukraine," wrote the American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on Saturday, citing the "Washington Post."
