Kim Jong Un reaffirms North Korea's mutual defence treaty with Russia
Updated
Updated · Reuters · May 8
Kim Jong Un reaffirms North Korea's mutual defence treaty with Russia
5 articles · Updated · Reuters · May 8
In a Victory Day message to Vladimir Putin, Kim said Pyongyang would give top priority to ties with Moscow and fulfil obligations under their 2024 strategic partnership treaty.
The pact, signed during Putin's visit to Pyongyang, includes a mutual defence clause. North Korea has sent an estimated 14,000 troops to Russia's Kursk region, where officials say more than 6,000 were killed.
The message came as Russia held a scaled-back Victory Day parade amid Ukrainian attack threats, and after Moscow and Kyiv confirmed a three-day ceasefire from May 9 to May 11.
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From Treaty to Troops: How the 2024 Russia–North Korea Alliance Is Reshaping Global Security
Overview
In June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, leading to the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and North Korea. This treaty established a strong military alliance, driven by Russia’s need for arms in its Ukraine conflict and growing tensions with the West. North Korea responded by sending soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. To honor this involvement, Kim Jong-un ordered the construction of a memorial museum, which opened in April 2026. The United States, alarmed by this deepening alliance, has suggested seizing North Korean financial assets as a countermeasure.