Fact Check: North Korea and Russia marked a year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty.

Fact Check: "North Korea and Russia marked a year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty."

What We Know

The claim that North Korea and Russia marked a year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty is misleading. The treaty in question was signed on June 18, 2024, during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to North Korea, and it officially came into force on December 4, 2024 after the exchange of ratification instruments (source-1). Therefore, by June 2025, it would be the first anniversary of the signing, not the first anniversary of its enforcement.

On June 19, 2025, North Korea and Russia did celebrate the anniversary of the treaty's signing with a banquet, where both nations hailed their alliance as "invincible" (source-4). However, this celebration does not equate to marking a full year of the treaty being in effect, as it had not been operational for a year at that point.

Analysis

The core of the claim hinges on the interpretation of what it means to "mark a year" of the treaty. While the signing anniversary was indeed celebrated, the treaty itself had not been in effect for a full year. The distinction is significant because it affects the understanding of the treaty's implications and the nature of the partnership between North Korea and Russia.

The sources reporting on the anniversary celebration, such as the Korea JoongAng Daily and MSN, are credible in their reporting of the event but do not clarify the timeline regarding the treaty's enforcement. The Wikipedia entry provides a more detailed timeline that clarifies when the treaty was signed and when it came into force, which is essential for understanding the context of the claim.

Conclusion

The claim that North Korea and Russia marked a year of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership treaty is False. The treaty was signed on June 18, 2024, and came into force on December 4, 2024. Therefore, as of June 2025, they were only commemorating the signing anniversary, not the anniversary of the treaty's enforcement.

Sources

1. North Korean-Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
2. Key points of North Korea, Russia landmark strategic partnership treaty
3. North Korea, Russia hail 'invincible' alliance on anniversary of strategic partnership treaty
4. N. Korea's FM hails defense treaty with Russia as 'invincible alliance'
5. North Korea reaffirms commitment to defence treaty with Russia