Putin Warns US and Allies: Will Arm North Korea if Weapons Aid Continues

President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia issued a direct warning to the United States and its allies, asserting his willingness to support North Korea with weapons if they persist in providing Kyiv with advanced weaponry that has targeted Russian territory. The warning escalates the tensions for the Western powers that are supporting Ukraine.

Threat Issued in Vietnam

Mr. Putin made this threat during discussions with journalists who were accompanying him late on Thursday in Vietnam, before his return to Russia following visits to Vietnam and North Korea. A day before, in Pyongyang, he had renewed a mutual defense pact with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, which dates back to the Cold War era. This pact obliges each nation to offer military aid to the other "with all means at its disposal" in the event of an attack.

Reason for the Threat

President Putin framed the threat to arm Pyongyang, in contravention of United Nations sanctions, as a response to decisions made by the United States and its allies in the recent months. These decisions allowed Ukraine to carry out targeted strikes on Russian territory with the weapons they have been supplied with. Although the White House approved this decision last month, it upheld its prohibition on longer-range attacks deeper in the country using U.S. arms. Mr. Putin, emphasizing on the issue, stated, "Those who supply these weapons believe that they are not at war with us. Well, as I said, including in Pyongyang, then we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions of the world."