Conflicts
South Korea criticizes Russia’s agreement with North Korea
During a state visit to Pyongyang, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the new partnership agreement with ruler Kim Jong Un. Photo
© Kristina Kormilitsyna/Pool Sputnik Kremlin/AP/dpa
The military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is a major concern for the United States and its allies. South Korea is particularly suspicious of a new agreement between the two countries.
South Korea has rejected Russia’s agreement with North Korea over a comprehensive strategic partnership. The agreement aims to strengthen “military and economic cooperation” between the two countries, said South Korea’s National Security Advisor Chang Ho Jin in Seoul.
However, any cooperation that directly or indirectly helps North Korea to strengthen its military base is a violation of UN resolutions against the country, Chang said. South Korea intends to take countermeasures.
At the same time, Chang announced that the South Korean government would reconsider its previous refusal to supply weapons to Ukraine. Because of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, South Korea is participating in the financial sanctions against Moscow. Seoul is also providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine. However, it does not export military weapons to Kiev.
State visit to Pyongyang
North Korea, ruled by Kim Jong Un, is subject to far-reaching UN sanctions and import bans because of its nuclear weapons program, which also affect the trade in weapons and the transfer of military technology to the country. During a state visit to Pyongyang on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the new partnership agreement with Kim, which also provides for mutual assistance in the event of war.
North Korea’s state media published the text of the treaty on Thursday, which also includes an obligation to provide assistance. It states: “If either side enters a state of war as a result of the armed invasion of one or more states, the other side must immediately provide military or other assistance using all means at its disposal.” The assistance must be in accordance with the national laws of both contracting parties and Article 51 of the UN Charter. This article allows military operations for self-defense.
Concern about military cooperation
In South Korea, the mutual assistance clause in the new treaty was also seen as evidence of a new military alliance between the two countries. There are also parallels to the 1961 friendship treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang from the Soviet era. The treaty, which expired in 1996, also provided for mutual military assistance. Both sides then signed a new cooperation agreement in 2000, which no longer included mutual military assistance. This treaty is now being replaced by the partnership agreement.
The US and its allies have long viewed Russia’s growing military cooperation with North Korea with great concern. The US accuses North Korea of supplying Russia with missiles and artillery ammunition that would be used in the Ukraine war. They fear that the isolated North Korea could receive key military technology from Russia in return. Both countries have denied such cooperation.