Russia-DPRK Sign Framework for Long-Term Military Cooperation 2027–2031

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov traveled to Pyongyang and met with Kim Jong-un and North Korean Defense Minister No Kwang Chol. Both sides agreed to place military cooperation 'on a stable, long-term footing' and announced readiness to sign a formal Russian-Korean Military Cooperation Plan covering 2027–2031. The framework formalizes the alliance forged through DPRK troop deployments to Russia and arms transfers including artillery shells and KN-23 ballistic missiles. The agreement marks the most comprehensive institutionalization of Russia-DPRK military ties since the June 2024 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty signed in Pyongyang. Western analysts described the plan as unprecedented in scope, encompassing joint training, weapons development cooperation, and intelligence sharing.