NATO says Russia-North Korea cooperation deal boosts Western unity

According to RIA Novosti on June 20, commenting on the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty between Russia and North Korea, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that this would push the West to "better unite."

“This cooperation agreement demonstrates how Russia and North Korea support each other… The answer is that Russia, North Korea, China and Iran are becoming united. This will promote our greater unity. Now, this is more important than ever,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said during a visit to Canada.

Mr Stoltenberg added that the West was "concerned that Russia is supporting North Korea's nuclear and missile programmes".

On June 19, after talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, Russia and North Korea signed a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement, cooperation in the fields of health, medical education and science, as well as an agreement to build a road bridge across the Foggy River on the border between the two countries.

Professor Lee Hae-yong of Hanshin University said that the Russia-North Korea agreement is “a condensed version of the 70-year relationship between the United States and South Korea,” including their alliance. However, the Russia-North Korea relationship reflects the opposite, built on the spirit of anti-neocolonialism, a multipolar world order, and immediately raised the relationship to a new level.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un said that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement involves the development of cooperation between the two countries, including in the economic, political and military spheres. On the Russian side, President Putin said that Moscow does not rule out the development of military-technical cooperation with Pyongyang in connection with the signed Strategic Partnership Agreement.