BY Afrlens News
Russia and North Korea have agreed to deepen their military alliance with a “long-term” cooperation framework, according to Moscow’s defence ministry, marking a significant escalation in ties between the two heavily sanctioned states.
The announcement came during a high-level visit to Pyongyang by Russian Defence Minister Andrey Belousov, who said both countries are moving to formalise sustained defence collaboration beyond immediate wartime needs.
“We agreed with the DPRK Defence Ministry to place our military cooperation on a stable, long-term footing,” Belousov stated, adding that both sides are prepared to sign a comprehensive plan covering the period from 2027 to 2031.
The development underscores growing alignment between Moscow and Pyongyang since the escalation of the Russia–Ukraine War, with Western and Asian officials increasingly concerned about the implications for regional and global security.
North Korea, led by Kim Jong Un, has reportedly deployed thousands of troops, alongside missiles and munitions, to support Russia’s military campaign. In return, analysts say Pyongyang is receiving financial assistance, food supplies, energy support, and potentially sensitive military technology—resources that could help it bypass stringent international sanctions tied to its nuclear weapons programme.
The strengthening of ties builds on a 2024 defence treaty between the two countries, which commits each side to provide immediate military assistance if the other is attacked, effectively formalising a mutual defence arrangement.
During the visit, Belousov met Kim and North Korea’s Defence Minister No Kwang Chol, while Russian parliamentary speaker Vyacheslav Volodin also held talks with the North Korean leader. Volodin praised Pyongyang’s role in supporting Russian operations, stating that North Korean troops contributed to “the liberation of Kursk,” a reference to clashes in Russia’s western region amid Ukrainian counteroffensives.
“Korean soldiers fought shoulder to shoulder with our soldiers and officers, liberating Russian soil from the Ukrainian Nazis,” Volodin said.
Russian officials also awarded North Korean servicemen who participated in the Kursk operations, highlighting the increasingly visible role of foreign fighters in the conflict.
Estimates from Seoul suggest that around 2,000 North Korean troops may have been killed in the war, reflecting the high human cost of Pyongyang’s involvement. Reports further indicate that some North Korean soldiers were instructed to avoid capture at all costs, with only two reportedly taken alive by Ukrainian forces.
The growing military partnership is likely to intensify geopolitical tensions, particularly with the United States, South Korea, and their allies, who view the cooperation as a destabilising development. It could also trigger stricter enforcement of sanctions and increased military preparedness in Northeast Asia.
With both nations now signalling a structured, multi-year defence collaboration, analysts warn the alliance could reshape strategic balances, prolong the Ukraine conflict, and expand the scope of military cooperation among states seeking to counter Western influence.
