Russia ratifies military assistance treaty with North Korea as U.S. reports 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 support each other if attacked. The ratification follows reports from the U.S. confirming the deployment of up to 10,000 North Korean troops to Russia's Kursk region. This would mark North Korea's first involvement in a large-scale conflict since the Korean War. Moscow and Pyongyang have not confirmed the troop presence but stated their military cooperation is lawful. North Korea recently launched short-range ballistic missiles, showcasing its military capabilities amid rising tensions.