Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said Russia and North Korea discussed preparing a five-year military cooperation plan for 2027-2031 and were ready to sign it this year. [1]
Belousov said the two sides had reached an agreement with North Korea’s defence ministry to put military cooperation on a “sustainable long-term footing.” He said, “We are prepared to sign a Russian-Korean military cooperation plan for the 2027-2031 period this year.” [1]
The North Korean state-run Korean Central News Agency did not report any discussion of the five-year plan. It said instead that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and Belousov discussed ways to further strengthen political and military cooperation. [1]
The reported plan would cover 5 years, from 2027 to 2031. Analysts said such cooperation could speed North Korea’s military modernisation and make China uneasy. [1]
Belousov’s remarks point to a next step this year, when Russia said it was prepared to sign the cooperation plan. [1]
