Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov is in Pyongyang for high-level talks with his North Korean counterpart, No Kwang-chol, focusing on the implementation of a new strategic cooperation treaty between the two nations.

Belousov described the agreement as a stabilizing force for Northeast Asia, aimed at maintaining the region’s balance of power and minimizing the risk of renewed conflict on the Korean Peninsula, including the potential use of nuclear weapons.

No Kwang-chol praised the growing collaboration between the military departments of Russia and North Korea, underscoring the increasing importance of their partnership.

The visit comes amid allegations by the U.S. and its allies that North Korea has sent approximately 12,000 troops to Russia, potentially for training or deployment in the ongoing Ukraine conflict. While Moscow and Pyongyang have not confirmed these claims, Russian President Vladimir Putin emphasized that how the two nations honor their commitments under the treaty is a matter solely for them to decide.

The treaty includes provisions for mutual assistance in case of aggression by a third party. This has raised concerns following Ukraine’s August incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region, which Moscow interpreted as an act of hostility supported by Western nations.

Russia views the Ukraine conflict as a proxy war led by the U.S., accusing Washington of escalating the situation through advanced weaponry supplied to Kiev. President Putin has argued that long-range missile strikes on Russian territory, enabled by Western support, effectively make donor nations direct participants in the conflict.

This latest meeting signals closer military ties between Russia and North Korea, which could have significant implications for regional security in Northeast Asia and beyond. As tensions rise, the evolving alliance adds another layer of complexity to the geopolitical landscape.