Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a defense pact with North Korea on Saturday. Part of the military cooperation is that both countries will come to each other's aid if they are attacked. The treaty was ratified by the Russian parliament earlier this month.
Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed the pact in June, when Putin visited the North Korean capital of Pyongyang. The two dictatorial countries have significantly expanded their cooperation since the war in Ukraine. Moscow also sought further rapprochement with Iran and purchased drones from that country.
According to South Korea, Ukraine and the United States, there are several North Korean troops in Ukraine to support Russia in the war. Moscow has neither denied nor confirmed this. Ukrainian President Zelensky said earlier this week that there are also about 11,000 North Korean soldiers active in the Russian region of Kursk to help the Russians against Ukrainian troops who are occupying an area there.
