The North Atlantic Alliance fears that Russia may help develop North Korea’s nuclear and missile programmes after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang. This was stated by the alliance’s Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, speaking in Ottawa before a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Russia and the DPRK have concluded a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty following talks between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un in Pyongyang. According to the Russian leader, the signed document provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in case of aggression against one of the parties to this treaty.
“They support each other like never before. And that led to North Korea signing a bilateral defence treaty. This demonstrates that they support each other and help each other. <…> And we are very concerned that Russia may start supporting nuclear weapons development programmes,” Jens Stoltenberg said, Reuters quoted him as saying.
According to NATO Secretary General, the Treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership of the Russian Federation and the DPRK demonstrates even greater cohesion of these countries and emphasises the importance of the unity of the West.
Recall, earlier the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin said that Russia is going through a difficult period in Russian history. He emphasised that in the emerging conditions of the new world reality, “someone is seeking” to maintain its fading hegemony through Russia.