Elite military to come to Russia from North Korea for first time – Reuters

An elite military training delegation headed by Kim Geum Chol, president of the Kim Il Sung Military University, has left North Korea for Russia.

Source: Reuters

Details: This is reportedly the first military exchange between the two countries since Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un agreed to closer military cooperation.

During their last meeting, Putin and Kim signed the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership" treaty, which includes a mutual defence agreement, which the North Korean leader says is tantamount to an alliance.

This public development of military ties between the two countries is causing concern among officials in Seoul and Washington, who point to evidence of arms shipments from the DPRK to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine and believe that Pyongyang may be receiving assistance from Moscow.

At the same time, both countries deny any military operations.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who will attend the NATO summit in Washington this week, warned Moscow of the negative consequences of friendship with Pyongyang for active economic relations between the two countries.

Background:

• On 19 June, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, which obliges each side to provide immediate military assistance to the other in the event of armed aggression against one of them.
• NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the agreement between Russia and the DPRK demonstrated the growing coherence between authoritarian states and underlined the importance of democracies speaking with one voice.
• Kurt Campbell, US Deputy Secretary of State, believes that North Korea may request from Russia technologies for improvement of long-range missiles and nuclear weapons in exchange for the military aid it provides it with.
• South Korean TV network TV Chosun reported that North Korea will send military construction and engineering forces to participate in "reconstruction works" in occupied Donetsk Oblast as early as July 2024.

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