Russia ratifies military assistance treaty with North Korea as U.S. confirms troop deployment

Russia's upper house of parliament has ratified a military assistance treaty with North Korea. This agreement, signed by President Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un in June, commits both countries to provide military support if either is attacked. The ratification follows U.S. confirmation of up to 10,000 North Korean troops deployed in Russia's Kursk region. This marks a significant military collaboration between Russia and North Korea, the strongest since the Cold War. North Korea's troop deployment could lead to its first large-scale military involvement since the Korean War. Both countries have not confirmed the troop presence but assert their military cooperation is lawful.