North Korea (Washington Insider Magazine) -President Vladimir Putin indicated that Russia may provide military support to North Korea, framing it as a reciprocal response to Western arms supplies to Ukraine. His comments came during a press conference in Vietnam on Thursday, following his visit to North Korea, where he signed a mutual defense agreement with leader Kim Jong Un.
Western nations have largely isolated North Korea due to its nuclear and ballistic missile programs, and they view the increasing collaboration between Moscow and Pyongyang with alarm.
Putin previously warned that Russia might supply arms to adversaries of the West, citing the West’s provision of high-precision weapons to Ukraine, which have been used against targets within Russia. He reiterated this sentiment by stating that North Korea could be among those receiving Russian arms. “I said, including in Pyongyang, that we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world. Considering our agreements with [North Korea], I do not exclude this either,” he remarked.
The treaty signed between Putin and Kim pledges immediate military assistance to either party in the event of aggression. Putin expressed hope that the burgeoning partnership with North Korea would deter Western actions but clarified that there was no intention to deploy North Korean troops in the Ukraine conflict. “We are not asking anyone for this, nor has anyone offered, so there is no need,” he said.
Amid discussions, Putin warned South Korea against supplying arms to Ukraine, calling it a “big mistake.” He added that such a decision would provoke a significant response from Moscow. This warning followed reports that South Korea was reconsidering its stance on military aid to Ukraine after the mutual defense pact with North Korea.
“In connection with sending lethal weapons to combat zones in Ukraine, this would be a very big mistake. I hope this will not happen,” Putin stated. “If it does, we will make decisions that the current South Korean leadership probably will not like.”
While South Korea has experienced a rise in international military sales, it maintains a policy of refraining from selling weapons to active conflict zones, despite pressures from the U.S. and Ukraine to reconsider.
The implications of the agreement between Russia and North Korea are debated among analysts, with some viewing it as a revival of their Cold War-era alliance, while others see it as more symbolic than substantive. Ankit Panda, a senior analyst at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that the agreement’s language seemed intentionally crafted to avoid suggesting automatic military intervention, yet it signals both countries’ intent to expand cooperation.
Putin also addressed nuclear weapons, stating that Russia is contemplating changes to its doctrine regarding their use. He expressed concerns over how adversaries are reevaluating nuclear thresholds, particularly with the development of low-yield nuclear devices. He warned that these evolving views among potential enemies necessitate Russia’s attention and response.
Since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which he characterizes as a special military operation for Russia’s security, Putin has frequently highlighted the significance and scale of Russia’s nuclear capabilities, warning that further Western involvement in the Ukraine conflict could lead to global ramifications.