South Korea expresses concern as Russia moves to ratify defense pact with North

Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill on Monday to Russia's lower house of parliament to ratify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which includes a clause for mutual military assistance should either country be attacked.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Pyongyang after signing a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June. [RODONG SINMUN]

South Korea expressed concerns Tuesday after Russia began the ratification process for a mutual defense treaty signed with North Korea in June that commits both countries to assist each other in repelling external aggression.

Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted a bill on Monday to the State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, to ratify the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, according to Russian news outlet Sputnik. The treaty signed during Putin's visit to Pyongyang on June 19 includes a clause for mutual military assistance should either country be attacked.

This signals that Russia moved forward with the ratification process of the treaty with North Korea, where such treaties are formalized through the Duma. Under Article 22 of the agreement, the treaty must be ratified by both nations and will take effect once ratification documents are exchanged. It remains unclear whether North Korea has ratified the treaty on its side.

In response, South Korea's Foreign Ministry expressed concern over Russia's actions.

"We are closely monitoring the situation with concern," the ministry said in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

"We urge Russia and North Korea to halt illegal military cooperation and take a more constructive role in ensuring peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," it added. "Any actions threatening security would be met with a firm response from the international community."

Following Putin's submission of the draft law for the ratification of the treaty, the Russian Foreign Ministry aligned itself with North Korea’s recent accusations against South Korea claiming that South Korean drones violated its airspace during the nights of Oct. 3, 9 and 10 to scatter anti-North Korean leaflets.

"Such actions by Seoul can only be interpreted as a flagrant violation of the DPRK’s sovereignty and interference in its internal affairs, aimed at undermining the legitimate political and government system of an independent state and depriving it of its right to sovereign development," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said in an English-language statement. The DPRK is the acronym of North Korea's official name.

Zakharova also warned South Korea to take Pyongyang’s warnings seriously, saying that Seoul’s actions "exacerbate tensions and could lead to actual armed confrontations."

She emphasized that Russia remains committed to playing a constructive role on the Korean Peninsula and working to prevent dangerous escalations.

Zakharova concluded by noting that Russia would continue to work within the treaty on a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with North Korea to "avert dangerous developments and guide the situation back towards a positive trajectory."

BY SEO JI-EUN [seo.jieun1@joongang.co.kr]