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North Korea has ratified a mutual defense treaty with Russia , pledging each side's support in case of an armed attack, North Korean state media reported Tuesday. The treaty, signed by leaders Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin in June, requires "immediate military and other assistance" if either nation enters a state of war. The agreement further strengthens military cooperation , with North Korea reportedly sending over 10,000 troops to support Russia in its conflict with Ukraine. Both Seoul and Washington have confirmed North Korean troops are actively involved in combat near the Ukraine border .

The United States , alongside South Korea, Japan , and eight other nations, launched a new initiative to monitor North Korea’s nuclear weapons development . This plan follows the dissolution of a UN panel of experts earlier this year, after Russia's veto prevented the continuation of international monitoring. The newly formed Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team includes Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand , and the UK , along with the US , South Korea , and Japan . Its goal is to ensure the full implementation of UN sanctions on North Korea by rigorously investigating and publishing findings on sanctions violations and attempts to evade them. This announcement comes amidst rising tensions on the Korean peninsula , with North Korea recently destroying roads connecting to the South and Kim Jong Un ramping up threats against South Korea . Kim has claimed the right to "annihilate" the South, intensifying hostilities between the na...