Putin, Was the Delay Intentional?..."Hinting at Cooperation Equivalent to Wartime"

'Defector-turned-PhD' Choi Kyung-hee, CEO of Sand Institute
"Meeting officials late at night only happens during wartime"
"North Korea's actions should be seen as deliberate performances with intent"

North Korea and Russia have recently signed a new treaty close to the Soviet-era 'automatic military intervention' clause, and a new interpretation has emerged regarding President Vladimir Putin's 'late-night delay' during his recent visit to North Korea. The unprecedented appearance of arriving past midnight during a 'state visit' is analyzed as a staged signal indicating that both sides have embarked on cooperation akin to wartime conditions.

President Putin's Illyushin (IL)-96 private plane landed at Pyongyang Sunan Airport past 2 a.m. on the 19th. Originally, he was scheduled to arrive in North Korea on the evening of the 18th after completing his Far East regional visit, but, proving his notorious reputation as a 'latecomer,' he appeared late once again.

In the early morning of the 19th, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, waiting for Russian President Vladimir Putin at Pyongyang Sunan Airport. [Image source=Kremlin]

It is unprecedented for a 'state visit' of the highest rank to arrive past midnight. Due to this delay, the planned 2-day, 1-night schedule was reduced to a 'same-day' visit. Kim Jong-un, the 'Number 1' in North Korea, waited alone at the airport for President Putin, and this scene, which could be seen as a blow to North Korea's pride, was broadcast worldwide. In this context, some evaluations suggested that Russia moderated the level of closeness with North Korea out of concern.

On the contrary, an opposite interpretation has emerged. Dr. Choi Kyung-hee, head of the Sand Institute and a defector from North Korea, stated, "The actions of North Korea and Russia should be seen as pre-agreed performances, and it is necessary to examine the intentions behind them." Dr. Choi's analysis is as follows: just as a 'late-night' state visit is unprecedented, a head of state conducting a schedule until dawn only happens during 'wartime.' Showing the international community the image of the North Korean and Russian leaders meeting in the dark hours is interpreted as a signal that 'we are currently in a state of war and will engage in cooperation commensurate with that.'

As a result, North Korea and Russia have significantly raised the level of military cooperation through the 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership' agreement. Article 4 of the treaty stipulates that "if either party is subjected to armed aggression by an individual state or multiple states and enters a state of war, the other party shall, without delay, provide military and other assistance by all means at its disposal in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter and the laws of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and the Russian Federation." The latter part of the clause specifying military assistance aligns with the 'automatic military intervention' clause of the 1961 DPRK-Soviet Friendship Treaty.

On the 19th, Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, welcomes Vladimir Putin, President of Russia, at Pyongyang Sunan Airport. [Image source=Kremlin Palace]

Since the treaty is based on the UN Charter and the domestic laws of Russia and North Korea, there remains room for interpretation. Some analyses suggest that Russia has left a kind of braking mechanism. The government has judged that the content of the North Korea-Russia treaty and the level of military cooperation have crossed a 'line' and has taken the strong step of reconsidering its existing policy of not supplying lethal weapons to Ukraine. President Putin has responded by saying, "It would be a very big mistake."

Meanwhile, our government plans to summon the Russian ambassador to South Korea for a protest on the same day. A diplomatic source said, "Kim Hong-gyun, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, will call Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in the afternoon to convey the government's position on the North Korea-Russia treaty signing and military cooperation."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.