Putin signs new strategic treaty with N Korea, invites Kim to visit Moscow

Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korean leader Kim Jong Un for his support and invited him to visit Moscow during a meeting that the two leaders held on Wednesday (Jun 19) following a grand welcome ceremony at the Kim II Sung Square in Pyongyang, reported the Russian news agencies.

During his visit, Putin signed anew treaty with North Korea which would provide"mutual assistance" in caseeither country faces aggression.

Putin receives grand welcome

Putin arrived in the North Korean capital on Wednesday morning for his two-day visit to the isolated nation amid the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and the rise in tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The Russian president was greeted by the North Korean leader upon his arrival. The two leaders were seen shaking hands, embracing and talking before leaving in Putin’s Russia-made Aurus limousine for the Kumsusan State Guest House.

In contrast to the relatively subdued welcome at the airport, Putin was greeted by cheering crowds and lavish ceremonies at the square by the Taedong River running through the capital, reported Reuters citing a broadcast by Russian media.

The two leaders then left for the Kumsusan Palace for summit talks, reported the Russian media.

According to the North Korean media, the two leaders shared “pent-up inmost thoughts” on the ride to the state guest house.

Russian president invites Kim to visit

“We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including in the Ukrainian direction,” Russian state news agency RIA quoted Putin as saying at the start of the talks with Kim.

This comes after Putinthanked North Korea for supporting what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine despite “USpressure, blackmail and military threats” in a letter, ahead of his visit.

“I am very happy about our new meeting, I hope that the next one will take place in Russia, in Moscow,” said the Russian president during the meeting with the North Korean leader, as per news agencies.

Ties with Russia entering new era: Kim

The North Korean leader, during the meeting, reportedly said that the relations between Pyongyang and Moscow are entering a new era.

“Relations between our countries are entering a new era of blossoming, which cannot be compared even with the period of Korean-Soviet relations of the last century,” said Kim as per Russian news agencies.

The North Korean leader also believed that the Russian president’s visit would further “strengthen” their countries’ friendship.

Russia and North Korea sign treaty

Russia and North Korea, during Putin's historic visit also signed a newagreement upgrading their countries' ties to a "comprehensive strategic partnership".

"The comprehensive partnership treaty signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty," said the Russian president.

He also hailed the agreementas a"breakthrough" that would take ties between Moscow and Pyongyang to a "new level".

Putin also said Russia "does not rule out military-technical cooperation with the DPRK in connection with the treaty that was signed today,"referring to North Korea by its official name.

Meanwhile, Kim called Putinthe "dearest friend of the Korean people" and said that his country"expresses full support and solidarity to the Russian government" over the Ukraine war.

Putin’s visit to Pyongyang

There are several events on the agenda for Wednesday, including one-on-one discussions between the two leaders, a gala concert, state reception, honour guards, document signings and a statement to the media,Putin’s foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov reportedly said.

Notably, while Moscow and Pyongyang have been allies since North Korea’s founding after World War II, with Putin being isolated from the international stage due to the Ukraine war, the two nations have become even closer.

(With inputs from agencies)