SEOUL, June 19 (AJP) - North Korea on Friday marked the second anniversary of its mutual defense treaty with Russia, hailing the pact as an essential legal weapon to reshape the global order. The declaration solidifies a permanent military alignment that directly threatens the security architecture of South Korea.
The formalization of the alliance comes as Pyongyang completely shuns Seoul, having recently redefined South Korea as a permanently hostile enemy state rather than a partner for reunification. By anchoring itself to a nuclear-armed superpower, North Korea is establishing a battle-hardened military axis aimed at isolating its southern neighbor.
According to security reports, this defense pact has already translated into massive frontline cooperation, with North Korea funneling an estimated 20,000 troops to support Russia's war effort. The deployment has exacted a heavy toll on North Korean forces, resulting in thousands of casualties near the front lines.
The Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the ruling Workers' Party, reported that the treaty signed during the June 2024 summit between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin provides a powerful legal framework. The state media outlet stated that the agreement guarantees the future of bilateral relations despite any international challenges or obstacles.
The newspaper emphasized that the treaty serves as a reliable guarantee for a new international order amid an increasingly chaotic and unstable global political environment. It added that the North Korean government and its people maintain an immovable stance to permanently expand and develop their traditional friendship with Moscow.
Pyongyang highlighted several milestones achieved under the pact over the past two years, including the resumption of passenger flights between Pyongyang and Moscow, the construction of a joint hospital, and the deployment of troops. The military assistance is rooted in Article 4 of the treaty, which mandates immediate military intervention if either nation is attacked.
The United States-based monitoring group NK News, citing a Ukrainian intelligence report, recently estimated that approximately 14,000 North Korean soldiers remained stationed in the Kursk region of Russia early this year. The report estimated that cumulative North Korean casualties from the deployment have reached approximately 7,000 soldiers.
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