Kim Jong UN's ratification of the North Korea-Russia treaty could pave the way for more military aid to Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong UN has signed a decree ratifying the North Korea-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, pledging to send troops to the aid of either side in the event of war. With the treaty as a basis, the North Korean military may expand its military assistance and increase efforts to help Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Tuesday (November 12) that Kim Jong UN had issued a decree on the 11th, ratifying the North Korea-Russia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in Pyongyang on June 19.

Russian President Vladimir Putin ratified the treaty on November 9. The treaty will enter into force after the exchange of ratification documents between the two sides.

The treaty has 23 articles, including Article 4, which stipulates that if one side is forced into war by armed attack, the other side will immediately mobilize all available means to provide military assistance.

Analysts believe that the DPRK and Russia quickly pushed forward the ratification process of the treaty to ensure the legitimacy of the DPRK army to participate in the war, and the ratification of the treaty soon after the US election results, the timing is interesting.

Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, analyzed in an interview with the media that before Trump's inauguration and the possible change in the situation of the war in Ukraine, North Korea hopes to institutionalize the DPRK-Russia treaty as soon as possible to improve the effect of North Korea's troop support. Russia is believed to want to get military aid from North Korea as soon as possible to regain control of Russia's western Kursk region before the Trump administration pushes forward negotiations with Ukraine.

The "Central Daily" report also pointed out that the adoption of this treaty between North Korea and Russia provides a legal basis for North Korea to send troops to Russia.

"The North Korea-Russia treaty cannot override UN resolutions banning such cooperation, but North Korea and Russia will insist that it is legal to do so under the treaty," Hong said. "North Korea may send more and larger troops to Russia in the future."

Military cooperation between North Korea and Russia is getting closer. North Korea's launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Oct. 31, which reached a maximum altitude of more than 7,000 kilometers, is believed to have received Russian support.

The South Korean military on Monday pointed out that the Hwasong-19 intercontinental ballistic missile launched by North Korea on October 31 was not an improved version of the existing Hwasong-18, but a completely new design.

South Korea has not found that North Korea has tested a solid fuel engine for the Hwasong-19 intercontinental missile, so it does not rule out that North Korea has obtained relevant technical support from Russia, and even Russia may have provided the engine.