Putin Escapes International Isolation with 'North Korea-Russia NATO-Style Alliance'

North Korea-Russia Summit Held in Pyongyang
Formation of North Korea-Russia Version of 'NATO-Style Alliance'

Russian President Vladimir Putin's visit to North Korea has been evaluated as establishing an independent military alliance comparable to the Western North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un held a summit in Pyongyang on the 19th.
[Photo by TASS Yonhap News]

On the 20th (local time), the US CNN network reported that President Putin, as an outcome of this visit to North Korea, "gained an enhanced image internationally, not as an isolated figure, alongside a NATO-style defense treaty."

The Article 4 of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" signed by North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and President Putin is similar to Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Article 4 contains a promise of mutual military assistance. NATO's collective defense principle, stipulated in Article 5 of the NATO treaty, states that "an armed attack against one or more of the parties shall be considered an attack against them all."

Through this treaty, North Korea and Russia agreed that if either country suffers a military invasion, the other party to the treaty will provide military assistance. In effect, they have formed their own 'NATO-style' military alliance.

President Putin stated that under this treaty, he "does not exclude the development of military and technical cooperation with North Korea." He criticized the US and the West for first violating international responsibilities by supporting Ukraine with weapons such as F-16s.

In this context, concerns have been raised that Russia's nuclear deterrence might extend to North Korea or that North Korea and Russia could conduct joint military exercises. There is even analysis suggesting that other countries might join this military alliance.

Jo Bi-yeon, a senior researcher at the Korea Defense Research Institute, told CNN that Article 4 of the North Korea-Russia treaty is "very concerning," adding, "Although it is still in the early stages (of military cooperation), depending on how the situation develops, North Korea and Russia could interpret this clause according to their own needs."

This visit to North Korea took place amid the deepening international isolation of President Putin following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Since the invasion, President Putin has been excluded from most international meetings, and an arrest warrant has even been issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

CNN noted, "President Putin showed the world that he is not an isolated figure by receiving a warm welcome from large crowds in downtown Pyongyang."

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