Russia and North Korea sign partnership agreement

Both Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un say the strategic partnership they signed in their summit in Pyongyang is a breakthrough, but what it means for their relationship is still uncertain.

While the agreement could represent the countries’ strongest deal signed after the Cold War, there are differing opinions on how strong of a security commitment Russia made to North Korea.

Kim claimed that the deal elevated bilateral relations to the level of an alliance, although Putin was more understated and did not call it an alliance.

The day after the deal was signed at a Pyongyang summit on Wednesday afternoon, North Korean state media released the text of the agreement, which vows mutual defense assistance and broader cooperation in military, foreign policy and trade. Russia has still not published its version of the text.

Officials in rival South Korean said they're still trying to assess what it all means, including what Russia’s response might be if the North comes under attack.

Relations between sprawling Russia and small, isolated North Korea  both of them nuclear powers  have warmed significantly in recent years amid Russia's growing acrimony with the West over the invasion of Ukraine and suppression of all domestic opposition.

The new agreement could bring them even closer, while also posing new challenges to the international community