Gabriela Bernal

Opinion | How far will Putin and Kim take ‘mutual assistance’ in face of aggression?

As Moscow and Pyongyang deepen military ties, the stakes have never been higher to prevent provocations that could turn into armed clashes

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Gabriela Bernal

Published: 5:30am, 22 Jun 2024Updated: 8:25am, 22 Jun 2024

The long-awaited summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un finally took place on Wednesday, with the two sides signing a new comprehensive strategic partnership agreement. While the two countries have consistently been deepening ties since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, this latest meeting could result in a level of military cooperation with global repercussions.

Putin’s visit came nine months after he held a summit with Kim Jong-un in the Russian Far East. Since then, evidence indicates that North Korea has provided Russia with rockets and artillery shells which Moscow has used in attacks on Ukraine.

Wednesday marked Putin’s first visit to North Korea in 24 years, further underscoring the magnitude of the event. Before his arrival, a letter written by Putin was published in North Korean newspaper, the Rodong Sinmun. In it, Putin praised the historic relationship with North Korea and pledged to “develop alternative trade and mutual settlements mechanisms not controlled by the West”. Putin also mentioned plans “to promote academic mobility between Russian and Korean higher education institutions, mutual tourist trips as well as cultural, educational, youth and sports exchanges”.

Meanwhile, the treaty signed by the two leaders provides for “mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties”. This wording is likely to raise concerns in the West, with media outlets reporting that the agreement is equivalent to a mutual defence pact.

During the summit, Kim declared that his country’s relations with Russia had been upgraded. “Relations between our two nations rose to a new high of alliance,” Kim said.

The new mutual assistance provision could provide a justification for Pyongyang to provide soldiers, workers or technicians to help Moscow in Ukraine if Kyiv’s actions are framed as aggression against Russia. On the other hand, the provision could also result in Russian military support for North Korea in the case of military aggression by the United States or South Korea.