Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang marks a deepening of ties between Moscow and Pyongyang. During the summit, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, which states that the two countries will “immediately provide military assistance” in the case of an attack on one of them.

A day after Russia and the DPRK announced their comprehensive strategic partnership treaty, South Korea expressed “serious concern” and condemned the treaty, and a high-level ROK government official stated Seoul will “reconsider” its current policy of not sending lethal weapons directly to Ukraine.