Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to visit North Korea on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country in 24 years. The visit, highly symbolic of the growing relationship between Russia and North Korea, comes amid global concerns about their military cooperation.
Putin will embark on a two-day state visit at the invitation of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, as reported by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on Monday. This visit follows Kim’s trip to Russia’s Far East nine months ago for a summit with Putin.
Since that summit, North Korea and Russia have been deepening their military and economic ties. North Korea has supplied ammunition to Russia for its war in Ukraine, receiving aid and suspected technological assistance for its space program in return.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov announced that Putin will arrive in Pyongyang on Tuesday evening, with plans to sign several important documents with Kim Jong-un on Wednesday. These documents are expected to include a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, outlining future cooperation between the two nations.
Experts believe this visit could pave the way for enhanced military collaboration, though they see a low likelihood of a formal military alliance being formed. Historical context shows that North Korea and the former Soviet Union once had a treaty of mutual assistance, but this was scrapped in 1996 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.
In 2000, a new treaty of bilateral cooperation was signed, focusing on immediate contact in case of a crisis but without provisions for automatic military intervention. The upcoming talks are likely to emphasize economic cooperation, given that their arms deals and military collaborations violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Analysts predict that while Russia may assist North Korea with its space development program, it is unlikely to transfer sensitive weapons technology. The issue of North Korean workers being dispatched abroad may also be discussed, as North Korea seeks foreign currency amidst international sanctions, and Russia faces a labor shortage due to its war in Ukraine.
This visit signifies a notable shift in international relations, highlighting the strengthening ties between Russia and North Korea against the backdrop of their shared opposition to the US.
