N. Korea-Russia mutual defence treaty ratified

NORTH Korea ratified a major defence treaty with Russia which covers mutual military aid, according to the North Korean state media agency. Russia had also ratified the treaty last week after the treaty was signed by President Vladimir Putin and Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un in June.

Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty, it would have encompass the provision of immediate military assistance through all available means if either country is attacked.

This comes after reports of as many as 12,000 North Korean Korean People’s Army (KPA) troops being deployed to Ukraine to support Russian operations. Ukrainian authorities reported that North Korean troops have already taken part in small-scale fighting.

South Korea’s intelligence agency assessed that North Korea sent over 13,000 containers of various munitions and weapons to Russia since August 2023.-shp/adj/dl (Pix:AP)