President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia did not discount the possibility of supplying arms to DPRK - and was also considering its own 'nuclear doctrine' - following his state visits to the country and to Vietnam on Thursday.
"Those who supply these weapons [Western countries] believe they are not at war with us. I have said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply arms to other parts of the world. Given our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I do not rule that out," Putin stated.
Putin clarified that any military assistance to DPRK would only occur under specific conditions outlined in the treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership.
"South Korea, the Republic of Korea, has nothing to worry about because our military assistance, according to the treaty we signed, will only be provided in case of aggression against one of the signatories," Putin assured. "As far as I know, the Republic of Korea is not planning any aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so there is no need to worry about our co-operation in this field."
The treaty, signed between Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, emphasised mutual military assistance in the event of an 'aggression' by a third country.. This provision mirrors a similar clause from the 1961 treaty.
The leader also commented on his country's nuclear doctrine.
"We are now thinking about what we can change in this nuclear doctrine, and it is connected with the following. This is because new elements are emerging - at least we know that the potential adversary is working on this - new elements related to lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons." he said.
The nuclear doctrine of each nuclear powers guides the conditions for use of the weapons. Putin did say that any form of 'pre-emptive strike' was not needed 'yet', because 'in a counter-strike the enemy will be guaranteed to be destroyed'.
Russia 'not ruling out' supplying weapons to DPRK, considering 'change' to nuclear doctrine - Putin
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia did not discount the possibility of supplying arms to DPRK - and was also considering its own 'nuclear doctrine' - following his state visits to the country and to Vietnam on Thursday.
"Those who supply these weapons [Western countries] believe they are not at war with us. I have said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply arms to other parts of the world. Given our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I do not rule that out," Putin stated.
Putin clarified that any military assistance to DPRK would only occur under specific conditions outlined in the treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership.
"South Korea, the Republic of Korea, has nothing to worry about because our military assistance, according to the treaty we signed, will only be provided in case of aggression against one of the signatories," Putin assured. "As far as I know, the Republic of Korea is not planning any aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so there is no need to worry about our co-operation in this field."
The treaty, signed between Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, emphasised mutual military assistance in the event of an 'aggression' by a third country.. This provision mirrors a similar clause from the 1961 treaty.
The leader also commented on his country's nuclear doctrine.
"We are now thinking about what we can change in this nuclear doctrine, and it is connected with the following. This is because new elements are emerging - at least we know that the potential adversary is working on this - new elements related to lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons." he said.
The nuclear doctrine of each nuclear powers guides the conditions for use of the weapons. Putin did say that any form of 'pre-emptive strike' was not needed 'yet', because 'in a counter-strike the enemy will be guaranteed to be destroyed'.
President Vladimir Putin announced that Russia did not discount the possibility of supplying arms to DPRK - and was also considering its own 'nuclear doctrine' - following his state visits to the country and to Vietnam on Thursday.
"Those who supply these weapons [Western countries] believe they are not at war with us. I have said, including in Pyongyang, that we then reserve the right to supply arms to other parts of the world. Given our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I do not rule that out," Putin stated.
Putin clarified that any military assistance to DPRK would only occur under specific conditions outlined in the treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership.
"South Korea, the Republic of Korea, has nothing to worry about because our military assistance, according to the treaty we signed, will only be provided in case of aggression against one of the signatories," Putin assured. "As far as I know, the Republic of Korea is not planning any aggression against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, so there is no need to worry about our co-operation in this field."
The treaty, signed between Putin and DPRK leader Kim Jong-un, emphasised mutual military assistance in the event of an 'aggression' by a third country.. This provision mirrors a similar clause from the 1961 treaty.
The leader also commented on his country's nuclear doctrine.
"We are now thinking about what we can change in this nuclear doctrine, and it is connected with the following. This is because new elements are emerging - at least we know that the potential adversary is working on this - new elements related to lowering the threshold for using nuclear weapons." he said.
The nuclear doctrine of each nuclear powers guides the conditions for use of the weapons. Putin did say that any form of 'pre-emptive strike' was not needed 'yet', because 'in a counter-strike the enemy will be guaranteed to be destroyed'.