RT reported that on November 29, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov held talks with North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang-chol, focusing on implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty that Russia and North Korea signed this year.
The treaty "is designed to play a balanced role in Northeast Asia, contributing positively to maintaining the balance of power in the region and reducing the risk of war breaking out again on the Korean Peninsula, including the use of nuclear weapons, laying the foundation for building a new Asia- Europe security system" - the Russian Defense Minister said at the talks.
Mr. Belousov emphasized that Russia and North Korea are close neighbors and long-standing friends. The relationship based on trust between the leaders of the two countries plays an important role in promoting Russia-North Korea cooperation.
The Russian Defense Minister pointed out that "the historic meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang in June 2024 showed the highest level of mutual trust", emphasizing that the results of the meeting demonstrated "the common wish of the two countries to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the context of a complex international situation".
For his part, North Korean Defense Minister and General No Kwang-chol called the friendship and interaction between the two armies a top priority.
"This relationship must be strengthened and developed continuously - that is the long-standing stance of our army" - General No Kwang-chol emphasized.
Mr. Kwang-chol noted that defense cooperation between the two sides, including high-level delegation exchanges, is being strongly promoted.
"We appreciate that," Minister No Kwang-chol stressed, expressing his confidence that the official visit of the Russian Defense Minister to North Korea "is an important moment for exchanging useful and constructive proposals, both enhancing the defense and security capacity of the two countries and promoting friendship, cooperation and development between the Russian and North Korean armies."
The summit comes after the US and its allies said North Korea had sent about 12,000 troops to Russia for training and could deploy in the conflict in Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied this information. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the decision to fulfill the common commitments under the new treaty depends on the two countries, not anyone else.
Under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty, Russia and North Korea are committed to supporting each other in the event of aggression by a third party.
In August, Ukraine launched an incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Western countries have said the move is justified because of Ukraine's right to self-defense amid an armed conflict with Russia.
Moscow, meanwhile, views the Ukrainian conflict as a US-led proxy war against Russia. Russian officials have accused Washington of repeatedly escalating the situation, including allowing Ukraine to use US-made long-range missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.
"The decision announced earlier this month has made the US and other countries with weapons used by Kiev participants in the conflict," Putin said, saying that without the direct participation of suppliers, the Ukrainian army would not be able to launch such sophisticated weapons.
