Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement yesterday in Pyongyang, reportedly the first such document between the two countries to include limited defense aid in over 30 years. The pair announced the deal amid Putin's first official visit to the country in a quarter of a century, their second meeting since September.
The two nations, beyond sharing a small 10-mile land border, have a history of alignment since World War II. Although neither side released a text of the agreement, Putin indicated in a joint press conference the countries would provide mutual assistance in the face of aggression, without elaborating on those terms. The leaders also alluded to increased economic ties as well as the sharing of military munitions, technology, and intelligence.
The pact comes days after reports surfaced the two countries have likely illicitly traded arms amid Russia's war in Ukraine. Read our previous write-up here.
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