North Korea Marks 2nd Anniversary of Russia Partnership Treaty, Calls it 'Essential Legal Weapon'

SEOUL, June 19 (Yonhap) -- North Korea on Friday marked the second anniversary of the signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russia, calling it "an essential legal weapon" that promises "a new global order."

The Rodong Sinmun, the ruling Workers' Party of Korea's newspaper, said the pact -- signed in Pyongyang on June 19, 2024, during Russian President Vladimir Putin's state visit -- had given the two countries a firm foundation to weather "a confusing and volatile international situation."

The treaty included a mutual defense clause committing each side to assist the other in the event of aggression -- an agreement that has since seen North Korea send troops to fight alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.

Friday's piece cited a new hospital under construction, restored air links between Pyongyang and Moscow, and the deployment of soldiers to Russia as part of the pact's fruits.

North Korea pledged to "actively support" the Russian government's policies based on the treaty, calling deeper ties across all sectors its "steadfast position."

Separately, it also reported that Vladimir Topekha, charge d'affaires ad interim of the Russian Embassy to North Korea, visited the National Gifts Exhibition House the previous day with embassy staff to mark the anniversary.