Russian Senate to Discuss North Korea-Russia Treaty Ratification Tomorrow

The Russian Federation Council will discuss the ratification of the "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" between Russia and North Korea (the North Korea-Russia Treaty) on the 6th (local time).

On the 5th, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that the Federation Council's Committee on International Affairs recommended the Federation Council approve the ratification of the North Korea-Russia Treaty.

Andrey Rudenko, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Photo by TASS

The North Korea-Russia Treaty was ratified by the State Duma on the 24th of last month. After ratification by the Federation Council and the signature of Russian President Vladimir Putin, the ratification process within Russia will be completed. This treaty, signed earlier in June by President Putin and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un, includes provisions that if either party is subjected to armed aggression and enters a state of war, the other party will provide military support. This has led to interpretations that it is effectively a military alliance.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko stated, "The treaty does not stipulate the formation of a military alliance, nor does it threaten any third country." He also emphasized that the treaty reflects the geopolitical realities of the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, asserting, "This entire process is related to policies promoted by the United States and its allies in the region."

When asked whether they hope for the resumption of talks related to the Korean Peninsula with the next U.S. president amid the start of the U.S. presidential election, he replied, "We always hope for a prudent and rational approach from the U.S. government and its allies who participated in the Six-Party Talks on the Korean Peninsula."

Regarding North Korea's missile test launches, he said, "These are legitimate measures to guarantee North Korea's self-defense capabilities." North Korea launched several short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) on the same day. Concerning claims that Russia is providing space technology to North Korea, he said, "I have no information about that."

When asked whether North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui discussed the mutual military support provisions of the North Korea-Russia "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" during her "strategic dialogue" with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the 1st, he replied, "All issues of mutual interest were discussed." He noted that this foreign ministers' meeting was the first since the signing of the North Korea-Russia Treaty in June and added that all agreed matters were discussed, making it strategic.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, during a briefing on the same day, criticized the U.S. State Department's announcement the previous day that "at least 10,000 North Korean troops have moved to Kursk, Russia," saying, "Every U.S. official who raises this issue always adds that they cannot present decisive evidence." He further claimed, "Ukraine and several European countries are increasingly involving more nations to internationalize the Ukraine conflict," and "They are making every effort to involve South Korea."