Russian parliament approves treaty with North Korea

Pentagon chief claims North Korean troops have arrived in Russia

This week, Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin made a bold claim that thousands of North Korean troops had arrived in Russia, sparking concerns of potential involvement in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian State Duma ratified a bilateral treaty with North Korea, emphasizing comprehensive cooperation and mutual support in the face of external threats.

The agreement, signed by President Vladimir Putin during his visit to Pyongyang in June, prohibits entering treaties with third parties that infringe on each other’s sovereignty. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko highlighted the treaty’s transparency and its aim to create a just international system, countering perceived Western hegemony in the Asian Pacific.

Speculation intensified as Ukrainian, South Korean, and US officials raised alarm about North Korean troops potentially entering the conflict. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the claims as contradictory, while North Korean diplomat Kim Yo-jong criticized Ukraine and South Korea as “lunatics” threatening nuclear-armed neighbors.

As tensions escalate, the world watches closely for any developments involving North Korean troops in Russia, amid the complex dynamics of international relations.