North Korea–Russia relations

The Soviet Union (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, USSR, the predecessor state to the modern Russian Federation) was the first to recognize North Korea (Democratic People's Republic of Korea, DPRK) on October 12, 1948, shortly after the proclamation, as the sole legitimate authority in all of Korea. The Soviet Union supported North Korea during the Korean War. North Korea was founded as part of the Communist bloc, and received major Soviet military and political support. The comprehensive personality cult around North Korea's ruling family was heavily influenced by Stalinism. China and the Soviet Union competed for influence in North Korea during the Sino-Soviet split in the 1960s, as North Korea tried to maintain good relations with both countries.

Relations between the two countries continued after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. The relationship regained importance after Vladimir Putin was elected President of Russia in 2000. Kim Jong Un also accepted an invitation to visit Russia in mid-2015. The two states share a border along the lower Tumen River, which is 17 kilometers (11 mi) long and was formed in 1860 when Tsar Alexander II acquired Ussuriland from Qing dynasty China in the Convention of Peking.

In 2022, North Korea became the third country (the second being Syria) to recognise the independence of the breakaway states of Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics in eastern Ukraine. In response to the recognition and support of Russia, Ukraine terminated diplomatic ties with North Korea. In September 2022, Russia reportedly purchased millions of shells and rockets from North Korea to aid in its invasion of Ukraine. In 2024, North Korea sent workers to Russia which lacks workforce due to the war and deployed troops into Kursk to support the Russian war effort. On June 18, 2024, North Korea and Russia signed the North Korean–Russian Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, formalizing a defense treaty between the two nations.