North Korea Ratifies Mutual Defence Treaty With Russia

Moscow: rth Korea has ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia, initially signed by leers of both nations in June.  

treaty commits each country to assist or in case of an armed attack, rth Korean state media KCNA reported on Tuesday.

anuncement comes amid widespre international criticism over deepening military ties between Pyongyang and Moscow. rth Korea has reportedly sent tens of thousands of troops to Russia to support its ongoing war in Ukraine.

Kim Jong Un signed decree ratifying treaty on Monday, according to KCNA, and agreement will come into force upon exchange of ratification instruments by both sides. Russian President Vlimir Putin has also signed treaty into law, mandating "immediate military and or assistance using all available means" if eir country enters a state of war.

treaty was finalized at a June summit between Kim and Putin, with Kim emphasizing that accord elevates bilateral ties to level of an "alliance."

Officials from Seoul, Washington, and Kyiv have stated that over 10,000 rth Korean troops are currently stationed in Russia, with U.S. officials and Ukraine’s defense minister reporting that some have participated in combat near Kursk, close to Ukrainian border. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky ted last week that rth Korean troops have suffered casualties, describing ir involvement as marking a "new chapter of global instability."

With inputs from Reuters