Pact with North Korea will protect us both from aggression, says Putin

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office has so far not commented on this visit, and may choose to ignore it altogether, as they do not like to give Vladimir Putin a platform.

Instead, Ukraine’s disinformation agency has dismissed both Kim Jong Un and Putin’s statements today as lies and propaganda.

“The visit shows that Putin is looking for any opportunity to continue the war, despite claiming he is ready for peace," it said in a statement.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba earlier said in an interview with the BBC’s HARDTalk programme that this meeting was proof that neither Ukraine nor Russia could fight this war alone.

What it was going to come down to, he said, was how many weapons each sides’ allies were able or willing to send.

The Ukrainians want to keep pushing their message, that this is not just a war in Ukraine but a war of aggression against the world.

As one MP - Kira Rudik, the leader of the Golos Party - told us earlier: “This alliance has been clear to us for a while, but now it is obvious to the rest of the world, and it is a threat to the democratic world."

They said the world needed to issue a strong response – by not only supporting Ukraine militarily, but also tightening sanctions on Russia to “make sure they actually work”.

EPACopyright: EPA

A key part of today's planned events in Pyongyang was the gala concert, clips of which have been shared by the RIA Kremlin Pool Telegram channel.

From the clip you can make out a singer performing a song by famous Russian pop singer Shaman, who was one of Vladimir Putin’s official proxies in the March presidential elections.

The song is called “We’ll Stand Up” (Встанем) and was released in early 2022 to mark Russia’s Defenders of the Fatherland Day and is originally said to have been written to mark those who fell in the Great Patriotic War (1941-1945) as Russia calls its part in World War Two.

However, after President Putin sent troops into Ukraine, some believe the song has become something of an anthem for his “special military operation”.

In the clip, we hear part of the chorus, which in translation sounds like this:"We’ll stand up / Our eternal memory beats strong in our chest between us. We’ll stand up / Heroes of Russia will remain in our hearts to the end."

Russian state media say excerpts from other wartime songs also featured, including “Where the Motherland Begins”, “We Need One Victory” and “Katyusha”, as well as song by groups who regularly support Mr Putin at political rallies.

It came after Mr Putin and Kim Jong Un laid a wreath at the Liberation monument in Pyongyang, which was erected in 1946 in memory of Red Army troops killed while liberating the Korean peninsula from occupying Japanese forces.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

As we've been reporting, Russia's leader has gifted his North Korean counterpart - and rumoured car enthusiast - with a luxury Aurus limousine.

And what better way to celebrate the signing of an accord in which the two countries agreed to support each other in the face of aggression, than with a drive?

The two men were spotted driving along a road before stopping and going for a walk in a wooded area - a small breather in a day packed with official activities, it seems.

You can read more about the gifts exchanged in our piece here: Putin and Kim exchange gifts of limousine, tea set and 'busts' in North Korea

SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

There's been pomp, pomp and more pomp in Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, to mark the visit of Russia's leader Vladimir Putin.

Both he and his North Korean counterpart, Kim Jong Un, have been eager to stress that the two sides share strong ties.

The visit isn't over yet but here are some of the key moments:

• The Russian leader was welcomed in a lavish formal ceremony featuring singing children, military walks and a parade through the streets

• Gifts were exchanged, with Kim reportedly receiving yet another luxury car, an admiral's dagger and a tea set
• The pair did do some business though - speaking together for two hours, according to media reports
• They then signed a deal to help each other in the event of "aggression" against either country - words which our diplomatic correspondent Paul Adams describes as "ominously ambiguous" below

Stay with us as we bring you more updates and analysis from the visit.

It’s in the interests of both leaders – seen by many as pariahs-in-arms – to describe their new partnership in the boldest terms.

Mr Kim calls it the “strongest ever treaty” which will help to accelerate the creation of a “new multipolar world”.

For Mr Putin, it’s a “breakthrough document”.

But until a formal text is announced, it’s hard to assess what the new deal means in practice.

For Mr Putin, it’s all about the war in Ukraine. He needs every artillery shell and rocket he can lay his hands on.

By South Korean estimates, he’s already received 10,000 containers of assorted munitions from Pyongyang.

Mr Kim has his own needs, highlighted by his country’s recent failure to put a spy satellite into orbit.

Despite sanctions, Russia can still muster the sort of technical expertise that the North Korean leader craves.

What will he actually get?

In his remarks, the Russian leader said he “did not exclude the development of military-technical cooperation with North Korea”.

That sounds like a qualified commitment.

The two countries are clearly upgrading their ties, to the dismay of the western world. China may also have its concerns.

But what do the two countries mean by “mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement”?

Perhaps the two leaders will prefer for that to remain ominously ambiguous.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

In the last two days, we’ve been discussing how desperate Russia is for munition and artillery to replenish its depleted stockpile and how Pyongyang is in a position to provide these things. Here’s a reminder of why that is.

Much of North Korea’s older low-tech weaponry is based on Soviet era technology which means it can be incorporated into Russia’s existing systems. In the last couple of days Washington has yet again repeated its claim that Pyongyang has supplied dozens of ballistic missiles and thousands of containers of munitions to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Both Russia and North Korea deny any arms transfers - which are violations of the UN Security Council resolutions.

One more thing to remember is how limited Pyongyang is in what they can provide to Moscow. It’s unclear how much and for how long they can supply munitions.

But it’s also unclear whether any new weaponry that been recently manufactured in North Korea would be compatible with Russian operating systems or whether they can be mass produced and delivered easily.

ReutersCopyright: Reuters

President Vladimir Putin has just been speaking in Pyongyang, where he and Kim Jong Un have signed a new agreement.

Here are some key points the Russian leader made:

• Called for the "indefinite restrictive regime inspired by the US and its allies at the UN Security Council" towards North Korea to be "reviewed"
• Revealed the comprehensive partnership agreement signed by the two countries provides "mutual assistance in the event of aggression"
• Highlighted recent statements by the US and other Nato countries about the supply of high-precision long-range weapons systems, F-16 aircraft, and other high-tech weapons and equipment "for inflicting attacks on Russian territory"
• Add that "Russia does not rule out developing the military-technical cooperation" with North Korea

EPACopyright: EPA

Kim Jong Un has told reporters that North Korea will respond “without hesitation” to “incidents or wars” facing either his country or Russia, after signing the new agreement with Moscow.

Kim did not elaborate on what the response will entail or what he views as an “incident or war”.

He was speaking after Russia's President Vladimir Putin revealed to reporters the new pact would provide for "mutual help" in the event of "aggression" against either of them.

“There will be no differences in interpretation, or hesitation, or wavering in carrying out the duty to respond in joined effort to various incidents or wars that are already facing our countries, or will face us in the future,” the North Korean leader said.

Kim has also declared that the relationship between North Korea and Russia is upgraded "to the new level of alliance".

The new treaty between the two countries is “thoroughly peaceful and defensive”, Kim added.

He said the treaty will accelerate the creation of a “multipolar world” where no dominant country can wield hegemonic power.

As we pass midday her in London, it is a good time to have another look at some of the images coming out of Pyongyang today.

It is fair to say North Korea has put on its best show for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who heads to Vietnam later.

Here are a few of the eye-catching images to emerge so far:

SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/ShutterstockCopyright: SPUTNIK/KREMLIN POOL/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock

North Korea and Russia are fast friends, but they are not firm friends. One of the major limits is their own relationship with China, which they cannot afford to jeopardise.

So it's not just the United States that is concerned. Beijing too will be watching with a worried eye.

When these two get together, and if North Korea gets hold of better weapons tech, it frightens US allies in the region. This worries China, which is concerned about an "East Asian Nato" - because it does not want any more US assets such as warships in this region.

If Russia is going to give North Korea more tech - analysts are not sure yet if that will happen - it will worry Beijing.

China wants to be a global leader. It doesn't want another Cold War. It wants business with both the US and Europe, and it does not want to cleave itself away from a relationship with the world in the same way that Russia and North Korea have.

Ahead of today’s meeting between Putin and Kim, Seoul said it received intelligence information that the two leaders would sign agreements on military co-operation.

This prompted South Korean National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin to warn his Russian counterpart against going “beyond a certain point”.

Chang, a former South Korean ambassador to Russia, said Moscow "should take into consideration which among North Korea and South Korea will be more important to it, once Russia ends its war with Ukraine”.

Now details of the agreement have started to emerge, it remains to be seen whether Moscow has indeed gone "beyond" that point.

It is also worth pointing out that Ukraine has previously unsuccessfully approached South Korea looking for military aid. Might it now rethink its position?

Some details are starting to emerge via Russian news agencies on what is in the agreements signed by Russia and North Korea in Pyongyang today.

Most strikingly, President Vladimir Putin is quoted as saying the "breakthrough document" includes a mutual defence clause: “The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties."

The agencies also cite Mr Putin as saying North Korea has the right to defend itself and that Russia and North Korea may cooperate militarily, although the agreement is “defensive and peaceful in nature”.

This mutual defence pact may have ramifications for Russia’s war in Ukraine. Could Russia involve North Korea more generally in the conflict, citing Ukrainian attacks on Russian cities such as Belgorod or regions annexed from Ukraine it now considers Russian territory.

Questions will also now be asked about what Russia could do next to alleviate sanctions on North Korea after it recently vetoed the renewal of the UN oversight panel.

Beyond the more headline-grabbing details, the Kremlin says other documents signed include agreements on the construction of a border road bridge and cooperation on health, medical education and science.

Kim has also called Russia "the most honest friend and ally", and referred to Putin "the dearest friend of the Korean people", according to a report by state agency RIA.

EPACopyright: EPA

Putin has invited Kim to Moscow for their next meeting - but if Kim accepts the invitation, how will he get there?

Kim’s two previous journeys on rail to Vladivostok in Russia's far east took about 20 hours each. Moscow is more than nine times further than Vladivostok - so it would take him at least eight days by train.

And in fact his father, Kim Jong Il, who reportedly had a great fear of flying - did take a train to Moscow in 2001 to meet Putin - a journey that took him ten days.

But Kim Jong Un seems slightly less averse to air travel than his father. In 2018 he flew on a Chinese plane to meet the then US President Trump in Singapore.

But it's also possible that Kim will never take up Putin’s offer.

North Korean leaders rarely travel outside of their country. Even rarer do they take trips beyond China and as far into Russia as Moscow. Watchers have speculated that the reluctance is due to fear of possible rebellion at home or assassination while traveling outside.

Read more here.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images

If you're just tuning in now, here are the highlights of the lavish ceremony Pyongyang put up to welcome Putin in his first visit to North Korea in 24 years:

As we've been reporting, America has accused Russia of turning to North Korea for military equipment during Moscow's war in Ukraine.

For one former CIA analyst, Putin's visit to Pyongyang highlights how two "pariah states" are cementing their ties despite their isolation from the international community.

"I think it is pretty pathetic that Putin has to resort to relying on [the] 198th ranked economy in the world to help his war effort," Sue Mi Terry told BBC News earlier.

"It's all around bad news for the rest of the world," Terry continued, highlighting concerns that the partnership was allowing North Korea to effectively test its weaponry.

But Terry, who is now a director at the Wilson Center think tank, said the partnership might only last as long as Russia's invasion of its neighbour. It could prove to be little more than a "marriage of convenience for the time being", she suggested.

North Korea - a country that doesn’t get many state visits - put on a show worthy of a rare visit by an important ally.

Putin’s trip was marked in all the pomp and circumstance you’d expect. Red carpets, red roses, the guard of honour at attention on the tarmac as the two leaders smiled and hugged when Kim received Putin in the early hours of Wednesday.

Pyongyang’s Kim Il Sung square was buzzing with crowds, colour and choreography - with stallions, balloons and huge posters of the two leaders adorning the surrounding buildings during the welcome ceremony. There’s also a tea party and a gala concert expected later this evening.

This lavish welcome comes as heavily-sanctioned North Korea has been suffering from shortages of food, fuel and power, and a depleted economy made much worse by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet Pyongyang seems to have spared no cost for this visit - in the hope of course that it would eventually pay off.

RIACopyright: RIA

Putin has presented Kim with a Russian luxury Aurus car, an admiral's dagger, and a tea set, Russian state media have reported, citing presidential aide Yuri Ushakov.

Ushakov did not elaborate on the signficance of this combination of gifts, but said they are "related to the image" of the Russian president.

This is not the first time Putin has gifted Kim an Aurus car - he last presented him an Aurus limousine in February, though it is not clear which model he has given him this time.

Getty ImagesCopyright: Getty Images