The lower house of the Russian parliament, the State Duma, ratified today the partnership agreement between Russia and North Korea, TASS reported.
According to the document, if one of the parties is subjected to an armed attack, the other will immediately provide it with military and other assistance.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed the pact during Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June.
Russia and North Korea have stepped up cooperation since the start of the war in Ukraine, with South Korea and Ukraine saying they are preparing to deploy North Korean troops to support the Russian side, Reuters notes.