Pyongyang: In a historic move, Vladimir Putin has pledged to establish robust trade and security systems with North Korea that circumvent Western influence. As he prepares for his first visit to Pyongyang in 24 years, Putin seeks to strengthen military and strategic partnerships amidst ongoing conflicts, particularly the war in Ukraine.
In a letter published by North Korean state media on Tuesday, ahead of his planned visit, Putin reaffirmed his unwavering support for North Korea. The letter, featured in Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers’ Party mouthpiece, highlighted the development of relations and partnerships over the past 70 years based on equality, mutual respect, and trust.
“We will develop alternative mechanisms of trade and mutual settlements that are not controlled by the West, and jointly resist illegitimate unilateral restrictions,” Putin wrote. “And at the same time – we will build an architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.”
Putin expressed gratitude for North Korea’s support of Russia’s actions in Ukraine and vowed to support Pyongyang in defending its interests against what he described as “U.S. pressure, blackmail, and military threats”.
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North Korean state media also expressed strong support for Russia’s operations in Ukraine, labeling them a “sacred war of all Russian citizens.” The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) stated, “The Korean people will always be on the side of the Russian government and people, extending full support and solidarity to their struggle to defend the national sovereignty and security interests.”
Meanwhile, U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller reiterated accusations that North Korea had supplied “dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to Russia” for use in Ukraine. He noted that Putin has increasingly turned to Iran and North Korea for military support to compensate for losses on the battlefield. Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any arms transfers.
Russia has promised extensive cooperation with North Korea across humanitarian, economic, trade, and military sectors, actively blocking efforts at the United Nations Security Council to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang.
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Partnership Agreement in the Works
The announcement of Putin’s visit, starting on Tuesday, came a day after the two nations disclosed plans for his two-day stay in North Korea. Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, indicated that a partnership agreement might be signed during the visit, encompassing security issues. Ushakov emphasized that the agreement would not target any other country but would outline future cooperation prospects, considering recent developments in international politics, economics, and security.
The Russian delegation accompanying Putin includes Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, and other high-ranking officials. The visit will feature one-on-one discussions between the leaders, a gala concert, state reception, honor guards, document signings, and a media statement, as reported by Yuri Ushakov via Russia’s Interfax news agency.
Commercial satellite imagery has suggested that North Korea is preparing for a possible military parade in downtown Pyongyang ahead of the visit.
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A Divided Security Council
Victor Cha, a former U.S. national security official now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, warned that the summit represents the most significant threat to U.S. national security since the Korean War. “This relationship, deep in history and reinvigorated by the war in Ukraine, undermines the security of Europe, Asia, and the U.S. homeland,” he wrote in a recent report. Cha urged Washington to collaborate with Europe and other partners to intensify economic and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang, engage with China, and launch a major human rights and information campaign to flood North Korea with external media.
North Korea, officially the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), has been under U.N. sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006. Over the years, these measures have been strengthened, but the Security Council remains divided on how to address Pyongyang’s actions. Russia and China argue for easing sanctions, suggesting they are ineffective, while the U.S. pushes for stricter measures.
Following his visit to North Korea, Putin is scheduled to visit Vietnam on June 19-20.
