Russia and North Korea sign treaty pledging military aid "without delay" in case of attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in Pyongyang on June 19, the text of which North Korea's KCNA news agency published on June 20. It was the first visit by a Russian president to North Korea since 2000.

Under Article 4, if one party is subjected to an armed attack and finds itself in a state of war, the other will "without delay" provide military and other assistance with all means at its disposal, in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter and the laws of both countries. The treaty also provides for cooperation in technology, energy and space and bars either party from concluding agreements with third states directed against the other.

Seoul's response

South Korea called the treaty a threat to its security, and national security adviser Chang Ho-jin said Seoul would reconsider its policy of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine. The US and South Korea have previously accused Pyongyang of supplying Russia with artillery ammunition and ballistic missiles, which both countries deny.