Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean supreme leader Kim Jong Un signed a mutual aid pact, emphasizing their close relationship since the fall of the Soviet Union. The agreement covers defensive security, humanitarian relief, trade, and investment concerns, with Putin thanking Kim for North Korea’s support in the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed Putin’s visit was a desperate attempt to maintain international allies despite the invasion and vowed to cut off support from countries like Iran and North Korea.
Kim has been working to build associations with Russia and China to increase international legitimacy despite North Korea’s poor human rights record. The country has been supplying munitions and military resources to the Russian military during the war in Ukraine. Putin’s visit to North Korea was seen as an effort to strengthen relations, with weapons bearing North Korean manufacturing marks being recovered by the Ukrainian military. This visit marks Putin’s second to North Korea since 2000, when Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, was in power.
North Korea, officially known as the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, was established in 1948 with influence from Soviet dictator Josef Stalin. The country is governed by the hereditary dictatorship of the Kim family, known as the Mount Paektu bloodline, founded by communist revolutionary Kim Il Sung. North Korea’s state ideology of Juche is based on a cult of personality and strong nationalism. The pact signed by Putin and Kim demonstrates the strong relationship between the two nations and their mutual aid in various aspects such as security, trade, and humanitarian relief.
Putin’s visit to North Korea also comes amid increased tensions with the West due to the ongoing invasion of Ukraine. The U.S. has condemned Russia’s actions and vowed to cut off support from countries like North Korea. Kim’s efforts to build relationships with Russia and China are seen as a way to gain international legitimacy and support despite the country’s human rights record. The pact signed between Russia and North Korea highlights their commitment to mutual aid and cooperation in various areas, including defense and trade.
The historical ties between Russia and North Korea, dating back to the founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in 1948, have grown stronger with the recent pact signed by Putin and Kim. The Kim family’s hereditary dictatorship and the country’s state ideology of Juche have also played a significant role in shaping North Korea’s relationship with Russia and other countries. The influx of North Korean munitions and military resources to support Russia during the war in Ukraine demonstrates the close partnership between the two nations. Putin’s visit to North Korea symbolizes the deepening ties and collaboration between Russia and North Korea amidst global political tensions.
