Russia's Putin, North Korea's Kim sign mutual defense pact
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[June 19, 2024]
By Josh Smith and Ju-min Park
SEOUL (Reuters) -The leaders of North Korea and Russia signed an
agreement on Wednesday that deepens their military cooperation to
include a mutual defense pledge to help each other if attacked, with the
North's Kim Jong Un calling the new ties an "alliance".
Kim spoke at a rare press conference following his meeting with
President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang, announcing the signing of a
"comprehensive strategic partnership" that the Russian leader said
included defensive elements.
"The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among
other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against
one of the parties to this agreement," said Putin, who was making his
first visit to North Korea in 24 years.
Putin's visit, which is likely to reshape decades of Russia-North Korea
relations at a time when both face international isolation, is being
watched closely by Seoul and Washington, which have expressed concern
about their growing military ties.
The reaction from China, the North's main political and economic
benefactor and an increasingly important ally for Moscow, has been
muted.
Kim said the pact would expand cooperation in the areas of politics,
economy and defense, calling it "strictly peace-loving and defensive" in
nature.
"Our two countries' relations have been elevated to the new higher level
of an alliance," Kim said.
At the start of their summit, Kim expressed "unconditional support" for
"all of Russia's policies", including "a full support and firm alliance"
for Putin's war with Ukraine.
Putin said Moscow was fighting the hegemonic, imperialist policy of the
United States and its allies, Russian media reported.
"We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian
policy, including in the Ukrainian direction," Russian state news agency
RIA quoted Putin as saying at the start of the talks.
Russia was hit with U.S.-led Western sanctions after Putin launched a
full-scale invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February 2022 in what
Moscow called a "special military operation".
'UNCONDITIONAL AND UNWAVERING SUPPORT'
Putin, who had hosted Kim at a summit in September in the Russian Far
East that accelerated the two countries' military cooperation, received
a lavish welcome in Pyongyang.
An honor guard including mounted soldiers, and a large crowd of
civilians gathered at the Kim Il Sung Square by the Taedong River
running through the capital. The scene included children holding
balloons and giant portraits of the two leaders with national flags
adorning the square's main building.
Kim and Putin then rode to the Kumsusan Palace for summit talks.
Earlier, Kim said the increasingly complicated security environment
around the world called for a stronger strategic dialogue with Russia.
"And I want to reaffirm that we will unconditionally and unwaveringly
support all of Russia's policies," Kim told Putin.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin talks with North Korean leader Kim
Jong Un during his visit to Pyongyang, North Korea, in this image
released by the Korean Central News Agency June 19, 2024. KCNA via
REUTERS
North Korea "expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian
government, army and people in carrying out a special military
operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, as
well as territorial integrity", he said.
Putin arrived at Pyongyang's airport earlier in the day. After Kim
welcomed him with an embrace, the two shared "pent-up inmost
thoughts" on the ride to the state guest house, North Korean state
media said.
The countries' partnership was an "engine for accelerating the
building of a new multi-polar world" and Putin's visit demonstrated
the invincibility and durability of their friendship and unity,
North Korea's state news agency KCNA said.
Russia has used its warming ties with North Korea to needle
Washington, while heavily sanctioned North Korea has won political
backing and promises of economic support and trade from Moscow.
The United States and its allies say they fear Russia could provide
aid for North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, which are
banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and have accused
Pyongyang of providing ballistic missiles and artillery shells that
Russia has used in its war in Ukraine.
Moscow and Pyongyang have denied weapons transfers.
'ALTERNATE TRADE MECHANISM'
After Putin's arrival in Pyongyang was delayed by hours, he emerged
from his plane at a pre-dawn hour and was greeted by Kim on the red
carpet alone, without the grand ceremony the North put on for
Chinese President Xi Jinping on his 2019 visit.
The pair then rode in Putin's Russian-made Aurus limousine to the
Kumsusan State Guest House.
State media photos showed streets of Pyongyang lined with portraits
of Putin and the facade of the unfinished and vacant 101-story
pyramid-shaped Ryugyong Hotel brightly lit with a giant message
"Welcome Putin".
In a signal that Russia, a veto-wielding member of the U.N. Security
Council, is reassessing its approach to North Korea, Putin praised
Pyongyang ahead of his arrival for resisting what he said was U.S.
economic pressure, blackmail and threats.
In an article for North Korea's official ruling party newspaper, he
promised to "develop alternative trade and mutual settlement
mechanisms not controlled by the West" and "build an equal and
indivisible security architecture in Eurasia".
(Reporting by Ju-min Park, Josh Smith, Jack Kim in Seoul, Lidia
Kelly in Melbourne; Editing by Stephen Coates, Raju Gopalakrishnan,
Gerry Doyle and Alex Richardson)
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