Russia-North Korea / If Russia is attacked, Korea will not leave us alone... they vowed to protect each other

Russia-North Korea: Russia and North Korea sign agreement, both countries will help each other in case of attack Seoul, June 19 (AP) Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a new agreement during a summit on Wednesday, which commits to mutual help in case of an attack on either country.

This summit has taken place at a time when both countries are facing a growing deadlock with the West. The leaders said that this agreement is related to areas like security, trade, investment and cultural and humanitarian relations, and it could prove to be the strongest step between Moscow and Pyongyang since the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Both leaders described it as a major improvement in bilateral relations.

The two met during Putin's first visit to North Korea in 24 years. Putin's visit is taking place amid growing concerns in Western countries about the arms arrangement under which North Korea is providing weapons to Russia for the war with Ukraine and is receiving economic aid and technology in return.

This exercise between the two countries is being seen as a move to increase economic and military cooperation and to prepare a united front against the US. According to Russian state media, after the signing ceremony, Putin said that security and international issues were discussed extensively in talks with Kim. Putin has been quoted as saying that under the agreement, Russia will not back down from developing military-technical cooperation with North Korea.

The media said that the meeting between Putin and Kim continued for about two hours, while initially the meeting time was scheduled for one hour. At the beginning of his talks with the North Korean leader, Putin said that Russia and North Korea would sign an agreement to increase economic and military cooperation as they are "fighting against the imperialist hegemonic policies of the US and its satellites against the Russian Federation."

The United Nations Security Council has imposed tough economic sanctions on North Korea due to its nuclear weapons program, while Russia is also facing tough economic sanctions from the US and its Western partners due to the war against Ukraine. Russian media had said that Kim would host a reception. Putin is expected to leave for Vietnam on Wednesday evening. Putin praised the long-standing ties between the two countries ahead of the summit.

Kim said the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang has now become even closer than during the Soviet era. He described Putin's visit as an opportunity to further strengthen the "close friendship". Kim "expressed his country's full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in conducting a special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests and territorial integrity." However, it is not clear what kind of support Kim was talking about. Kim also "appreciated Russia's important role and mission in maintaining strategic stability and balance in the world."

Before the summit, Kim welcomed Putin at a grand ceremony on the city's main square and introduced Putin to key members of the North Korean leadership, including Foreign Minister Choi Son Hui, top aide and ruling party secretary Jo Yong Won and his sister Kim Yo Jong. Huge crowds gathered on the streets to welcome the Russian President's convoy and people shouted slogans of 'Welcome Putin'. During this, the public also waved the flags of North Korea and Russia.

According to Putin's foreign policy advisor Yuri Ushakov, Putin was accompanied by several top officials including Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Defense Minister Andrei Belousov and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Amidst the friendship between Putin and Kim, US and South Korean officials allege that North Korea is providing cannons, missiles and other military equipment to Russia for use in Ukraine and in return it is getting important military technology and assistance. However, both the countries have always rejected these allegations outright.