Russian lawmakers unanimously approved a new “global strategic partnership treaty” with North Korea on Thursday, formalizing a defense alliance that includes provisions for immediate military assistance in the event of an armed attack by a third party.
Soldiers Already at Border
The treaty, initially signed during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s June visit to Pyongyang, has sparked international concerns, especially in South Korea and the U.S., who claim thousands of North Korean troops are currently training in Russia.
Ukraine has also reported that North Korean soldiers have already arrived in the border region of Kursk, though both Moscow and Pyongyang have previously denied these deployments.
South Korean Support for Ukraine
In response, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement expressing “deep concern” over the treaty and the alleged presence of North Korean forces in Russia, calling on Moscow to “immediately withdraw” the troops and halt what it called “illegal cooperation.”
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol weighed in, condemning the deployment as a “provocation that threatens global security.”
According to Digi24 he also signaled a potential shift in Seoul’s stance on military support for Ukraine, suggesting that South Korea may now more “flexibly” consider providing arms to the Ukrainian military.
Meanwhile, North Korea has taken further steps to distance itself from South Korea, including the adoption of a new national anthem and constitutional amendments that designate South Korea as a “hostile state.”
