Russia: "North Korea-Russia Treaty Does Not Exclude Possibility of Military Cooperation"

Indicates Closer Cooperation in Security Sector
Criticism of UN Security Council Sanctions on North Korea
"BRICS Membership Is Increasing," Claims

North Korea and Russia, which have signed a 'Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty,' have expressed their intention to cooperate more closely in the future.

On the 25th (local time), according to major Russian media, Yuri Ushakov, Kremlin foreign policy advisor, stated at the international forum 'Primakov Readings' held in Moscow, "We are presenting guidelines and large-scale tasks for the development of bilateral relations in the security sector."

Kim Jong-un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea, spent time together and strengthened their friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the garden area of the Kumsusan Guesthouse, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 20th. They took turns driving the Aurus car that President Putin gifted to Chairman Kim, driving around the guesthouse premises. Chairman Kim highly praised the performance of the car and expressed his gratitude.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 19th, President Vladimir Putin and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un signed a treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership. Advisor Ushakov explained, "As our (Putin) president mentioned, this does not exclude the possibility of military cooperation."

Negative views were also expressed regarding UN Security Council sanctions against North Korea. Ushakov argued, "It is time for the international community to consider changes to this regime." He criticized the UN sanctions on North Korea, saying, "Restrictions related to labor migration are clearly inhumane," and condemned the illegal sanctions imposed by the United States and its allies as "merely tools of pressure in political, economic, and other fields."

On this day, Advisor Ushakov claimed that more and more countries want to join BRICS. He stated, "Thailand and Malaysia recently expressed their intention to join, and so far more than 30 countries have applied for membership."

BRICS, founded in 2006 by Brazil, Russia, India, and China, expanded in 2011 with the addition of South Africa, and last year Egypt, Iran, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Ethiopia joined as new members, increasing its influence mainly among developing countries in Africa and the Middle East.

There is also analysis that China and Russia are attempting to expand BRICS as a platform to counter the United States and the West, led by the G7 and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Meanwhile, Turkey, which has been in a prolonged deadlock in negotiations to join the European Union (EU), is reportedly also exploring BRICS membership.