Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un shake hands after signing joint documents during a ceremony at the Kumsusan State Guest House in Pyongyang, Wednesday. TASS-Yonhap

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un elevated their countries' bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Wednesday, which includes mutual assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.

Putin also said U.S.-led U.N. sanctions on the North Korean regime should be reexamined, pledging to stand with Pyongyang against the challenges posed by those measures.

"The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties," Putin said at a joint press conference after a summit with Kim in Pyongyang. The new treaty on the partnership will replace the fundamental documents that were inked in 1961 and 2000.

It appears that the new treaty does not include a clause on automatic military intervention in the event of an armed invasion, as the 1961 treaty did. However, the new agreement seems to reflect the strongest level of solidarity between the two nations since the Cold War era.

In his speech, Kim said relations between the North and Russia have been upgraded to the level of an "alliance."

"Relations between our two nations reached a new pinnacle of alliance," Kim said at the joint press conference.

"It is greatly satisfying to conclude a great treaty that befits a changed international situation and the strategic nature of new North Korea-Russia relations."

The Russian leader did not rule out the possibility of military-technical cooperation with the North in accordance with the signed treaty.

Describing Putin as "the dearest friend of the Korean people," Kim said the new treaty envisions the development of cooperation between the two countries, including in the military sphere.

"The concluded treaty between Moscow and Pyongyang is peaceful and defensive in nature and will accelerate the creation of a new polycentric world," Kim said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un drive a Russian Aurus limousine during their meeting in Pyongyang, Wednesday. AP-Yonhap

Putin also criticized international sanctions imposed on his country and North Korea, expressing hostility toward the West for raising concerns about military cooperation between the two nations.

"Russia and North Korea have our own, independent diplomatic policies ... We'll fight against sanctions which the West has intensified to keep their political and economic hegemony," he said.

The Russian president said U.N. Security Council sanctions on North Korea, led by the U.S., should be abolished, adding, "North Korea has the right to take reasonable measures to strengthen its defense power, national security, and sovereignty."

Russia and North Korea also signed agreements on cooperation in the fields of healthcare, medical education, and science, according to Russian news reports.

Following the summit, the two leaders participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Liberation Monument in Pyongyang and attended a state reception and a gala concert. Putin reportedly gave Kim a new Aurus luxury limousine and a tea set as a gift and invited him to Moscow before leaving for Hanoi later in the night.

Putin arrived in Pyongyang early Wednesday morning, later than scheduled, and was greeted by Kim, according to the North's Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). The visit was also reciprocal to Kim's visit to Russia last September.

Speaking at the summit, Putin expressed gratitude for Kim's unwavering support for Russia.

“We highly appreciate your consistent and unwavering support for Russian policy, including that about Ukraine,” Putin was quoted as saying by Russia's Tass news agency.

The North Korean leader praised Russia's role in maintaining strategic stability in the world, adding that their relationship has entered a period of “new prosperity.”

“We appreciate the important mission and role of a strong Russia in maintaining strategic balance in the world, and also express full support and solidarity to the Russian government, army and people in carrying out the special military operation in Ukraine to protect sovereignty, security interests, and also territorial integrity,” Kim was quoted as saying by Russia' Sputnik news agency.

This marked Putin's first visit to North Korea since July 2000, when he met with then-leader of North Korea, Kim Jong-il, the late father of the current leader. It was Putin's third summit with Kim Jong-un following the first in April 2019 and the second in September last year.

In Pyongyang, Russian flags and portraits of Putin hung throughout the city and residents lined the streets to welcome the Russian leader ahead of a welcoming ceremony that took place at Kim Il Sung Square.

North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un, front left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, attend a welcoming ceremony at Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang, Wednesday. AFP-Yonhap

Experts said the Russian delegation accompanying Putin on his trip offers clues about what issues could have been discussed during the summit.

The delegation includes Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak, Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko, Health Minister Mikhail Murashko, head of the Ministry of Transport Roman Starovoyt, Head of Roscosmos Yury Borisov, head of Russian Railways Oleg Belozerov, the governor of Primorye Oleg Kozhemyako and others.

“It looks like the summit focused on issues including boosting ties in defense, trade, energy, space, transport and health. One notable matter is that Deputy Defense Minister Alexey Krivoruchko attended the meeting, which suggests that Russia and North Korea discussed arms trade and weapons performances in more detail,” said Doo Jin-ho, a research fellow at the Center for Security and Strategy under the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses.

“Russia will likely provide technological assistance to the North for its space development program, especially with spy satellite launch efforts, although it is not likely to transfer sensitive weapons technology to Pyongyang,” Doo added.

Since the previous summit in September, North Korea has been supplying Russia with ammunition in exchange for technological assistance for its space program.

Hyun Seung-soo, a Russia expert at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank, said, “Putin wants to show the world that Russia-North Korea relations have returned to the level of the blood alliance seen during the Cold War, cement their solidarity against the U.S. and its allies, and boost cooperation in tourism, youth exchange and sports that are within the scope of not violating Western sanctions.”