South Korea’s Presidential office condemned a recent agreement between Russia and North Korea that pledged mutual defense assistance in the event of war, and indicated it may reconsider its policy of limiting support to Ukraine to non-lethal supplies.
A senior presidential official made these comments on Thursday, following a statement from the office condemning the agreement reached by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their summit in Pyongyang on Wednesday. The office stated that the agreement threatens South Korea’s security and could negatively impact Seoul’s relations with Moscow.
The anonymous official, speaking during a background briefing per office rules, said that Seoul will reconsider providing arms to Ukraine to help counter Russia’s invasion.
South Korea, a growing arms exporter with a well-equipped military backed by the United States, has provided humanitarian aid and other support to Ukraine while joining U.S.-led economic sanctions against Moscow. However, it has not directly supplied arms to Ukraine, citing a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to countries actively engaged in conflict.
The new agreement between Russia and North Korea, announced by North Korean state media on Thursday, requires both countries to provide immediate military assistance in the event of war using all available means.
Both Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin described the deal as a significant upgrade of bilateral relations, encompassing security, trade, investment, cultural, and humanitarian ties. Observers noted that this could mark the strongest connection between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.
The North’s official Korean Central News Agency reported that the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement includes Article 4, which states that if one country is invaded and enters a state of war, the other must provide “military and other assistance” using all means at its disposal. This must be in accordance with both countries’ laws and Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, which recognizes the right to self-defense for U.N. member states.
The summit between Kim and Putin raised concerns among the U.S. and its allies about a potential arms deal where Pyongyang would supply Moscow with munitions for its war in Ukraine in exchange for economic assistance and technology transfers that could enhance North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile programs.
Following the summit, Kim described the two countries’ relationship as a “fiery friendship” and the deal as their “strongest-ever treaty,” likening it to an alliance. Putin called it a “breakthrough document” that reflects a shared desire to elevate relations.
North Korea and the former Soviet Union had a 1961 treaty requiring Moscow’s military intervention if the North was attacked. This treaty was replaced in 2000 by a weaker agreement after the USSR collapsed.
South Korean officials said they were still analyzing the summit’s outcomes, including Russia’s potential response if North Korea is attacked. Analysts were divided on whether the agreement mandates Russia’s automatic military intervention on behalf of North Korea or if it was worded to avoid such a commitment. The inclusion of the U.N. Charter in the article was also unclear.
“We are currently reviewing the specifics of the treaty signed between Russia and North Korea during President Putin’s visit to North Korea. We will announce our government’s position after we are done,” Lim Soosuk, South Korea’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said during a briefing.
Lim also expressed regret that Moscow and Pyongyang signed the agreement while openly discussing military and technology cooperation, which would violate U.N. Security Council resolutions.
