Moscow- Russia | September 24, 2025

A Dangerous Alliance: Russia and North Korea Forge New Defense Pact

In a move sending shockwaves through the international community, Russia and North Korea have signed a new defense cooperation agreement, solidifying an alliance that Western powers fear could escalate global tensions. The pact, an update to an existing mutual defense treaty, expands military collaboration and signals a deeper alignment between the two nations, both of which are under a raft of international sanctions. The new agreement has been condemned by the U.S., South Korea, and Japan, which view it as a direct threat to regional and global security.

Headline Points

 * Russia and North Korea have signed a new defense cooperation agreement that expands their existing mutual defense treaty from June 2024.

 * The pact is believed to formalize and deepen the military and technical cooperation that has flourished since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

 * North Korea is expected to continue providing Russia with a significant supply of ammunition and troops for the war in Ukraine.

 * In exchange, Russia is likely to offer North Korea advanced military and space technology, which could dangerously accelerate Pyongyang’s weapons programs.

 * The agreement has raised grave concerns among Western nations and their allies, who see it as a direct challenge to the international non-proliferation regime and a dangerous entente between two nuclear-armed states.

Formalizing a “Fiery Friendship”

The new agreement, signed during a high-level meeting between Russian and North Korean officials, builds upon the “Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” that was first signed in June 2024. While the full text has not been made public by Russia, North Korea’s state media has hailed it as a “most powerful agreement.” The pact is seen as a formalization of the military-technical cooperation that has been widely reported since late 2023, with North Korea providing a massive supply of artillery shells and other munitions to Russia for its war in Ukraine.

In exchange for its support on the Ukrainian battlefield, North Korea is expected to receive crucial military and technological assistance from Moscow. This could include help with its nuclear and missile programs, as well as space and satellite technology. Experts and intelligence agencies have warned that this technology transfer could significantly advance North Korea’s capabilities, making its nuclear deterrent more credible and posing a greater threat to its neighbors, South Korea and Japan.

International Condemnation and Security Concerns

The agreement has triggered a wave of condemnation from the U.S. and its allies. South Korean officials have expressed “grave concern” and stated that the deepening of ties between Moscow and Pyongyang is a direct threat to the stability of the Korean Peninsula. In a joint statement, the foreign ministers of the G7 nations, alongside South Korea and Japan, declared that the pact undermines United Nations Security Council resolutions that both Russia and North Korea have repeatedly violated.

The pact is seen as a direct challenge to the international non-proliferation regime, as Russia—a permanent member of the UN Security Council—is now openly assisting a state that is actively seeking to expand its nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities. France and the UK have issued strong condemnations, with delegates at the UN stating that the agreement is an “unacceptable escalation” that will only prolong the conflict in Ukraine and increase suffering.

The alliance between Russia and North Korea, with both countries seeking to counter what they perceive as Western hegemony, has been described by analysts as an “axis of adversaries.” This new pact solidifies that partnership, demonstrating a shared willingness to flout international norms and sanctions. The long-term implications for global security are profound, as the world now faces a unified front of two states that are increasingly willing to use military force and technological collaboration to achieve their strategic goals.