dpa
Moscow/Seoul
Russia’s lower house of parliament ratified an overarching partnership treaty with North Korea on Thursday, as South Korea considers its response to North Korean troops in Russia.
The partnership treaty takes the military cooperation between the two countries to a new level and stipulates that they will provide mutual assistance should either country be attacked. The ratification was the final stage for the agreement that was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in June.
“The treaty takes full account of the current geopolitical situation,” said the head of the Duma’s foreign affairs committee, Leonid Slutsky.
He said it formed “the basis for the expansion of cooperation in all areas of interaction and the foundation for a comprehensive strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.” A spokeswoman from the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova said the military cooperation does not violate any laws.
The ratification took place against the backdrop of reports from South Korea and Ukraine that thousands of North Korean soldiers were being sent to Russia ahead of their apparent planned deployment to Ukraine.
South Korea’s intelligence service told members of parliament on Wednesday that North Korea had already sent about 3,000 soldiers to Russia. US defence chief Lloyd Austin on Wednesday confirmed that the United States has “evidence” that North Korean troops are in Russia but that it is not yet clear what they are doing.
South Korea said on Thursday that the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia is a direct violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and the UN Charter.
Speaking at a meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called the deployment “a provocation that extends beyond the Korean Peninsula and Europe and threatens global security.” South Korean Defence Minister Kim Yong Hyun labelled North Korean soldiers stationed in Russia as “cannon fodder mercenaries”.
