SpaceWar.com reports: “North Korea ratified a defense treaty with Russia, state media reported Tuesday, formally deepening military cooperation that has seen Pyongyang send thousands of troops to help Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

The ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ treaty was ratified on Monday by a decree from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, state-run Korean Central News Agency said. It was originally signed in June during a state visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia earlier completed its own ratification of the pact, with Putin signing it into law on Saturday after approval by the upper house of Russian parliament last week.

‘In the event that either party is in a state of war as a result of armed aggression by individual or multiple states, the other side shall provide military and other assistance without delay by all means at its disposal in accordance with Article 51 of the U.N. Charter,’ the agreement states…”