During Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years, the leaders of the two countries inked an agreement promising to give quick military support if either came under armed attack.
Under a 1961 contract signed by the Cold War allies and revoked in 1990 when the Soviet Union resumed diplomatic ties with South Korea, the vow is seen as the resuscitation of a mutual defence accord.
One of Moscow's most prominent actions in Asia in recent memory is the "comprehensive strategic partnership" deal that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin inked on Wednesday.
"If either side faces an armed invasion and is in a state of war, the other side will immediately use all available means to provide military and other assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of each country," Article 4 of the agreement says.
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter guarantees a member nation the right to act in self-defense, either individually or collectively.
The presidents of the two nations, which are becoming more and more isolated from the outside world, made this commitment as worries about Russia's potential backing for North Korea—the only nation to test a nuclear weapon this century—grew among the US and its Asian allies.
This week, over two million Muslims will finish their Haj pilgrimage, but hundreds of those who began their trek last Friday to the Kaaba in Mecca perished due to the intense heat.
Kim reiterated Putin's declaration, which made a clear connection between their strengthening relationship and opposing the "hegemonic and imperialist" practices of the West, and the US in particular, including support for Ukraine.
According to KCNA, the pact also stated that neither party would consent to any deal with a third party that would violate the other's interests or let any nation to utilise its territory in a way that would jeopardise the security or sovereignty of the other.
According to the statement, the two nations would work together to "strengthen defence capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security."
Regarding the alleged contents of the deal, South Korea and the White House refrained from commenting immediately.
Regarding Putin's pledge to not rule out working with Pyongyang on weapons technologies, Japan voiced "severe concerns."
China, the North's primary source of diplomatic and economic support, has not responded strongly.
Growing military collaboration between Russia and the North has unnerved Washington and Seoul, which have accused the two of breaking international law by exchanging weapons for Moscow's conflict against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, they have discovered missile debris from North Korea inside their borders.
North Korea and Russia dispute any arms trade.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, claimed that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has permitted "the most brazen nullification" of all restrictions placed on North Korea to halt its weapons development.
The alliance demonstrated the alignment of authoritarian powers, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Putin congratulated Kim for supporting Russian policy during his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, and Kim reiterated his "unconditional" and steadfast support for "all of Russia's policies," including Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
The agreement's complete language was made public by KCNA on Thursday. It includes cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, space exploration, and food and energy security.
The mutual defence commitment is comparable to that found in the 1961 pact between the North and the Soviet Union, according to Cha Du Hyeogn, a former official in the South Korean administration and current fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.
However, he said, there is room for interpretation about the references to the U.N. Charter and the laws of each nation, therefore it was unclear if the agreement would comprise an alliance.
"It comes from Kim wanting to put everything in for this agreement, while Putin is being reluctant to do so," Cha said.
(Source:www.tbsnews.com) During Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years, the leaders of the two countries inked an agreement promising to give quick military support if either came under armed attack.
Under a 1961 contract signed by the Cold War allies and revoked in 1990 when the Soviet Union resumed diplomatic ties with South Korea, the vow is seen as the resuscitation of a mutual defence accord.
One of Moscow's most prominent actions in Asia in recent memory is the "comprehensive strategic partnership" deal that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin inked on Wednesday.
"If either side faces an armed invasion and is in a state of war, the other side will immediately use all available means to provide military and other assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of each country," Article 4 of the agreement says.
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter guarantees a member nation the right to act in self-defense, either individually or collectively.
The presidents of the two nations, which are becoming more and more isolated from the outside world, made this commitment as worries about Russia's potential backing for North Korea—the only nation to test a nuclear weapon this century—grew among the US and its Asian allies.
This week, over two million Muslims will finish their Haj pilgrimage, but hundreds of those who began their trek last Friday to the Kaaba in Mecca perished due to the intense heat.
Kim reiterated Putin's declaration, which made a clear connection between their strengthening relationship and opposing the "hegemonic and imperialist" practices of the West, and the US in particular, including support for Ukraine.
According to KCNA, the pact also stated that neither party would consent to any deal with a third party that would violate the other's interests or let any nation to utilise its territory in a way that would jeopardise the security or sovereignty of the other.
According to the statement, the two nations would work together to "strengthen defence capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security."
Regarding the alleged contents of the deal, South Korea and the White House refrained from commenting immediately.
Regarding Putin's pledge to not rule out working with Pyongyang on weapons technologies, Japan voiced "severe concerns."
China, the North's primary source of diplomatic and economic support, has not responded strongly.
Growing military collaboration between Russia and the North has unnerved Washington and Seoul, which have accused the two of breaking international law by exchanging weapons for Moscow's conflict against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, they have discovered missile debris from North Korea inside their borders.
North Korea and Russia dispute any arms trade.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, claimed that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has permitted "the most brazen nullification" of all restrictions placed on North Korea to halt its weapons development.
The alliance demonstrated the alignment of authoritarian powers, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Putin congratulated Kim for supporting Russian policy during his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, and Kim reiterated his "unconditional" and steadfast support for "all of Russia's policies," including Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
The agreement's complete language was made public by KCNA on Thursday. It includes cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, space exploration, and food and energy security.
The mutual defence commitment is comparable to that found in the 1961 pact between the North and the Soviet Union, according to Cha Du Hyeogn, a former official in the South Korean administration and current fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.
However, he said, there is room for interpretation about the references to the U.N. Charter and the laws of each nation, therefore it was unclear if the agreement would comprise an alliance.
"It comes from Kim wanting to put everything in for this agreement, while Putin is being reluctant to do so," Cha said.
(Source:www.tbsnews.com)
Under a 1961 contract signed by the Cold War allies and revoked in 1990 when the Soviet Union resumed diplomatic ties with South Korea, the vow is seen as the resuscitation of a mutual defence accord.
One of Moscow's most prominent actions in Asia in recent memory is the "comprehensive strategic partnership" deal that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin inked on Wednesday.
"If either side faces an armed invasion and is in a state of war, the other side will immediately use all available means to provide military and other assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of each country," Article 4 of the agreement says.
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter guarantees a member nation the right to act in self-defense, either individually or collectively.
The presidents of the two nations, which are becoming more and more isolated from the outside world, made this commitment as worries about Russia's potential backing for North Korea—the only nation to test a nuclear weapon this century—grew among the US and its Asian allies.
This week, over two million Muslims will finish their Haj pilgrimage, but hundreds of those who began their trek last Friday to the Kaaba in Mecca perished due to the intense heat.
Kim reiterated Putin's declaration, which made a clear connection between their strengthening relationship and opposing the "hegemonic and imperialist" practices of the West, and the US in particular, including support for Ukraine.
According to KCNA, the pact also stated that neither party would consent to any deal with a third party that would violate the other's interests or let any nation to utilise its territory in a way that would jeopardise the security or sovereignty of the other.
According to the statement, the two nations would work together to "strengthen defence capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security."
Regarding the alleged contents of the deal, South Korea and the White House refrained from commenting immediately.
Regarding Putin's pledge to not rule out working with Pyongyang on weapons technologies, Japan voiced "severe concerns."
China, the North's primary source of diplomatic and economic support, has not responded strongly.
Growing military collaboration between Russia and the North has unnerved Washington and Seoul, which have accused the two of breaking international law by exchanging weapons for Moscow's conflict against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, they have discovered missile debris from North Korea inside their borders.
North Korea and Russia dispute any arms trade.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, claimed that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has permitted "the most brazen nullification" of all restrictions placed on North Korea to halt its weapons development.
The alliance demonstrated the alignment of authoritarian powers, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Putin congratulated Kim for supporting Russian policy during his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, and Kim reiterated his "unconditional" and steadfast support for "all of Russia's policies," including Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
The agreement's complete language was made public by KCNA on Thursday. It includes cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, space exploration, and food and energy security.
The mutual defence commitment is comparable to that found in the 1961 pact between the North and the Soviet Union, according to Cha Du Hyeogn, a former official in the South Korean administration and current fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.
However, he said, there is room for interpretation about the references to the U.N. Charter and the laws of each nation, therefore it was unclear if the agreement would comprise an alliance.
"It comes from Kim wanting to put everything in for this agreement, while Putin is being reluctant to do so," Cha said.
(Source:www.tbsnews.com) During Russian President Vladimir Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years, the leaders of the two countries inked an agreement promising to give quick military support if either came under armed attack.
Under a 1961 contract signed by the Cold War allies and revoked in 1990 when the Soviet Union resumed diplomatic ties with South Korea, the vow is seen as the resuscitation of a mutual defence accord.
One of Moscow's most prominent actions in Asia in recent memory is the "comprehensive strategic partnership" deal that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin inked on Wednesday.
"If either side faces an armed invasion and is in a state of war, the other side will immediately use all available means to provide military and other assistance in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter and the laws of each country," Article 4 of the agreement says.
Article 51 of the United Nations Charter guarantees a member nation the right to act in self-defense, either individually or collectively.
The presidents of the two nations, which are becoming more and more isolated from the outside world, made this commitment as worries about Russia's potential backing for North Korea—the only nation to test a nuclear weapon this century—grew among the US and its Asian allies.
This week, over two million Muslims will finish their Haj pilgrimage, but hundreds of those who began their trek last Friday to the Kaaba in Mecca perished due to the intense heat.
Kim reiterated Putin's declaration, which made a clear connection between their strengthening relationship and opposing the "hegemonic and imperialist" practices of the West, and the US in particular, including support for Ukraine.
According to KCNA, the pact also stated that neither party would consent to any deal with a third party that would violate the other's interests or let any nation to utilise its territory in a way that would jeopardise the security or sovereignty of the other.
According to the statement, the two nations would work together to "strengthen defence capabilities to prevent war and ensure regional and international peace and security."
Regarding the alleged contents of the deal, South Korea and the White House refrained from commenting immediately.
Regarding Putin's pledge to not rule out working with Pyongyang on weapons technologies, Japan voiced "severe concerns."
China, the North's primary source of diplomatic and economic support, has not responded strongly.
Growing military collaboration between Russia and the North has unnerved Washington and Seoul, which have accused the two of breaking international law by exchanging weapons for Moscow's conflict against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian officials, they have discovered missile debris from North Korea inside their borders.
North Korea and Russia dispute any arms trade.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the Ukrainian president, claimed that Russia, a permanent member of the UN Security Council, has permitted "the most brazen nullification" of all restrictions placed on North Korea to halt its weapons development.
The alliance demonstrated the alignment of authoritarian powers, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Putin congratulated Kim for supporting Russian policy during his first visit to Pyongyang since 2000, and Kim reiterated his "unconditional" and steadfast support for "all of Russia's policies," including Putin's conflict with Ukraine.
The agreement's complete language was made public by KCNA on Thursday. It includes cooperation in the areas of nuclear energy, space exploration, and food and energy security.
The mutual defence commitment is comparable to that found in the 1961 pact between the North and the Soviet Union, according to Cha Du Hyeogn, a former official in the South Korean administration and current fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul.
However, he said, there is room for interpretation about the references to the U.N. Charter and the laws of each nation, therefore it was unclear if the agreement would comprise an alliance.
"It comes from Kim wanting to put everything in for this agreement, while Putin is being reluctant to do so," Cha said.
(Source:www.tbsnews.com)