Russian lawmakers ratify pact with North Korea as US confirms Pyongyang has sent troops to Russia

MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers on Thursday ratified a pact with North Korea providing for mutual military assistance, a move that comes as the U.S. confirmed the deployment of 3,000 North Korean troops to Russia.

The lower house of Russia’s parliament, the State Duma, quickly voted to endorse the “comprehensive strategic partnership” treaty that Russian President Vladimir Putin signed with North Korean leader King Jong Un during a visit to Pyongyang in June. It is expected that the Senate will soon follow.

The pact obliges Russia and North Korea to provide immediate military assistance by “all means” if either is attacked. It marked the strongest ties between Moscow and Pyongyang since the end of the Cold War.

The US said on Wednesday that 3,000 North Korean troops have been deployed to Russia and are training in various locations, calling the move very serious and warning that these troops will be “fair game” if they enter battle in Ukraine.

Russia and North Korea previously rejected claims by the US and its allies that Pyongyang gave Moscow ballistic missiles and millions of artillery shells for use in Ukraine.

When asked in June whether North Korean troops could fight alongside Russian forces in Ukraine under the pact, Putin said that was not necessary, but also announced for the first time that Russia could supply weapons to Pyongyang.

Observers said that in return for military support, Moscow could share advanced weapons technologies with Pyongyang to help improve its ballistic missile and satellite capabilities.