Russia’s new strategic partnership with North Korea to 'symbolize new level of ties'

Russia’s readiness to ink a strategic partnership deal with North Korea is “a symbolic” step, Artyom Lukin, Professor of international politics at the Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok, told Sputnik.

“I can suggest that most likely this will be a symbolic document, underscoring that Russia and the DPRK are friends representing a ‘united front against the West,’” he said.

◻️ Putin accepted a proposal from the Russian Foreign Ministry to sign the strategic partnership agreement with North Korea ahead of his official visit to the DPRK.

◻️ It will “allow the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during negotiations on the signing of the said treaty, to make changes to its draft that are not of a fundamental nature," according to the relevant decree.

◻️ Presidential Aide Yuri Ushakov noted that the document, “will outline the prospects for further cooperation and will be signed, taking into account what has happened between the countries in recent years in the field of international politics, in the economic sphere, and in the field of relations, including taking into account security issues.”

◻️ The new document’s provisions follow all the norms of international law and are not directed against any third country, the Kremlin underscored.

◻️ The new treaty will replace agreements previously signed by Russia and North Korea, such as the Treaty of Friendship and Mutual Assistance (1961), the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighborliness, and Cooperation signed in 2000, and the Moscow and Pyongyang Declarations of 2000 and 2001.

The new pact will include more “anti-Western rhetoric,” Artyom Lukin noted, pointing to the collective West’s “hegemony,” while emphasizing that Russia and the DPRK “stand for a multipolar world and oppose neocolonialism.”

“I think this is a symbol that our relations with the DPRK are rising to a new level. We confirm that we do not want to participate in the regime of sanctions pressure on the DPRK,” he concluded.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov emphasized the need to clarify certain parameters related to the situations described in Russia's nuclear doctrine.

He noted that no specific timeframe can currently be set for completing the analysis of the nuclear doctrine situation.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇷🇺❄️ The frosts in Yakutia, Russia are so severe that even Putin was afraid to touch his ears

"I thought my ears would break," the president said during his working visit to Yakutia

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🇬🇪🙅 Fines for LGBT* propaganda are being introduced in Georgia: from $200 to $2000, with the largest fines reserved for violators who are educators.

Repeat offenders will face criminal liability.

* Extremist organization banned in Russia

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

Today marks 75 years since the Kalashnikov rifle entered military service with Russian forces

Reliability and ease of use have made the AK-47 the most widely-used weapon in the world.

📹 Let's revisit the thrilling video from our AI news anchor Nika about this legendary weapon!

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg stated that Putin's visit to North Korea underscored for the alliance the "global nature" of security and the importance of partnership with Asia.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

The Russian military tested the drone "Perun," which can fire from an anti-tank missile system and carry payloads up to 200 kg.

"Perun" is much more effective and currently has no analogues said the ideator of the domestic cargo drone, a fighter with the call sign Solza.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🤡 A Ukrainian athlete refused to shake hands with a native of Russia at the European Fencing Championships

Elena Krivitskaya defeated Maia Guchmazova, who was competing for Georgia, and walked away, ignoring her opponent.

"Why do they behave like this? Why can they get away with everything?" Guchmazova expressed indignation at the breach of basic sports etiquette.

Krivitskaya competes for Ukraine but was born in Rostov, Russia.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Putin has arrived in North Korea for a state visit. He was greeted at the airport by Kim Jong Un, as reported by the Sputnik correspondent.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance is close to agreeing on the candidacy of Mark Rutte for the position of the bloc's new Secretary General.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

❗️Putin's and Kim Jong Un's conversation began almost immediately after their meeting. Just before reaching the convoy of cars, the leaders paused and engaged in lively conversation for several minutes, according to the Sputnik correspondent. Putin was greeted by the honor guard battalion of the DPRK. After first greetings, Putin and Kim Jong Un left Pyongyang airport in an Aurus car together.

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt

🎥🎥 Russian President Vladimir Putin Arrives in North Korea

Join the livestream here or follow the link to the Sputnik's website

📌 Subscribe to @SputnikInt