Summary

North Korea ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, pledging military support if either nation is attacked.

The treaty, signed in June, was finalized after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Pyongyang and follows reports of North Korean troops engaging Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region.

North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui voiced support for Russia’s war in Ukraine, calling it a “sacred struggle.”

Western countries, including the G7, have condemned the growing military alliance, expressing concerns over potential North Korean involvement in missile training.