Putin has approved a "union" with North Korea: the countries will protect each other and expand their cooperation beyond security.

Vladimir Putin has ratified the "Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Russia and North Korea". The agreement was signed during his visit to Pyongyang on June 19, 2024.

The relevant document has been published on the official portal of legal information in the Russian Federation. Recently, the Federation Council (the upper house of parliament) passed a law in support of the ratification of the agreement.

At that time, it was noted in the Federation Council that the treaty has a "peaceful nature and provides for support of an indefinite partnership based on mutual respect for sovereignty and other principles of international law."

However, Western media reported that it contained a secret clause regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to fight against Ukraine.

The agreement will come into effect after the exchange of ratification instruments and will be valid indefinitely.

As is known, the main provision of the document is its fourth clause concerning military assistance in the event of an armed attack on either country. This includes the supply of weapons, military consultations and training, intelligence sharing, and conducting joint military operations if necessary.

Additionally, the document outlines the expansion of economic cooperation and collaborative efforts in scientific fields, including space and nuclear industries. Furthermore, the countries have committed to coordinating their positions in the UN and on other international platforms on topics of mutual interest.

As previously reported, Western media has indicated that the elected U.S. President Donald Trump intends to dismantle the alliance between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. How he plans to achieve this remains unclear.