Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a strategic cooperation agreement today in Pyongyang, with the Russian president clarifying, according to TASS, that the agreement provides for “mutual assistance in case of aggressive actions against either of the two members.”

According to Putin, Russia does not rule out the possibility of military-technical cooperation with North Korea under the agreement.

The agreement is of a defensive and peaceful nature, added the Russian president, who emphasized that North Korea has the right to self-defense. In this context, Putin also stated that both countries stand against states that impose sanctions for political reasons.

According to TASS, the agreement will replace treaties signed in 1961 and 2000-2001, with Yuri Ushakov, advisor to the Russian president, explaining that “the new agreement was made due to rapid developments in the geopolitical situation in the world and the region.”

Earlier, Kim Jong Un had assured Russia of his “full support” and “solidarity” in its conflict with Ukraine.

North Korea “expresses its full support and solidarity with the government, army, and people of Russia in conducting the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, and territorial integrity,” Kim declared.

The Gifts Exchanged

According to Ushakov, Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un exchanged gifts.

As the Russian president said, he offered Kim a second luxury Russian-made Aurus car and a tea set.

Regarding the gifts presented to the head of the Russian state, Ushakov said, according to the TASS news agency, that Putin accepted artworks depicting him.

According to him, they are “beautiful gifts. They are variations of representations, all very artistic, including busts.”