SEOUL (AFP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a mutual defence agreement with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un yesterday.
The pledge of military cooperation was part of a strategic treaty signed during a summit in Pyongyang, where Putin was making his visit in 24 years.
“It is really a breakthrough document,” Putin said at a press conference in the North Korean capital, adding that it provided, “among other things, for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty”, Russian news agencies reported.
Putin also said Russia “does not rule out military-technical cooperation with the DPRK in connection with the treaty that was signed”, referring to the North by its official name.
Kim called Putin the “dearest friend of the Korean people” and said his country “expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian government”.
Putin, in turn, thanked his host Kim saying Moscow appreciated the “consistent and unwavering support”.
Putin arrived in Pyongyang yesterday to be greeted by Kim on a red carpet where the pair embraced and smiled. They then attended a welcoming ceremony in Kim Il Sung square, featuring a military band and mass synchronised dancing, afer which Putin invited his host to visit Moscow.
The summit, which included a lengthy one-on-one chat between the leaders, was their second meeting in a year.
