Russia’s upper house of parliament has ratified a mutual-defense pact with North Korea, deepening concerns among Western nations about Pyongyang’s support for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reports.
The move follows a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in June, which commits the two sides to mutual assistance in the event of an attack.
The pact, which was also ratified by Russia’s lower house last month, has raised alarms as reports suggest that North Korean troops are already deployed in Russia’s Kursk region, bordering Ukraine. Ukraine, the US, and South Korea have all alleged the presence of some 10,000 North Korean soldiers in the area.
Ukraine claims that its forces have engaged North Korean soldiers for the first time, following the deployment that NATO allies have called a significant escalation of the conflict.
US President Joe Biden last week urged Ukraine to strike North Korean forces if they enter the country to fight. This statement, along with the ratification of the mutual-defense pact, further intensifies tensions between the US and Russia, as well as raising concerns about the potential for a wider conflict.
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