North Korea rolled out the red carpet for Putin

Russia and North Korea on Wednesday signed a new “comprehensive strategic partnership” as Western officials grow increasingly concerned about the implications of President Vladimir Putin’s first state visit to the nuclear-armed nation in 24 years.

Russian state media reported the inkling of the partnership, hours after Putin arrived in Pyongyang to a red carpet greeting from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and a welcoming ceremony attended by thousands.

The Russian president’s lavish reception included praise from Kim, who expressed full support and solidarity with Moscow, including for “special military operations” in Ukraine, according to state news agency Tass.

In return, Putin reportedly presented Kim with a new Aurus (a Russian-made limousine), an admiral’s dagger and a tea set, a symbolic gesture of the two countries’ relations.

Russian officials have signaled plans for a strategic partnership ahead of Putin’s two-day trip. The new document will replace the previous agreement and better reflect the evolution in the relationship and geopolitical situation of the two countries.

This comes after the official newspaper of North Korea’s ruling party reported on Tuesday that Putin had promised to help expand trade with the country and help strengthen security across Eurasia. The article added that it supports the DPRK’s opposition to “dangerous and aggressive” enemies.

Western countries – which have heavily sanctioned Russia and North Korea – have been closely monitoring developments in the visit and its potential ramifications for Russia’s war in Ukraine and tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told a joint press conference on Tuesday that Putin’s trip “confirms the very close alignment between Russia and authoritarian countries like North Korea,” as well as China and Iran. Stoltenberg delivered the comments alongside US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

US officials have confirmed that Pyongyang has supplied Russia with dozens of ballistic missiles and more than 11,000 containers of ammunition for the war in Ukraine and that Putin could use the trip to lobby for more weapons.

“We are, of course, also concerned about the potential support that Russia provides to North Korea when it comes to supporting its missile and nuclear program,” said Stoltenberg.

Speaking to CNBC’s “Squawk Box Asia” on Wednesday, Victor Cha, senior vice president for Asia and Korea chairman of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that North Korea’s supply of weapons to Russia could be reciprocated through the Kremlin’s support for its nuclear program.

“The question is how Putin feels he needs ammunition from North Korea to survive and win the war,” Cha said. “This may lower the bar for what North Korea is willing to give, especially if Kim makes a tough deal..”

Early last year, Kim ordered an “exponential” expansion of his country’s nuclear arsenal and the development of more powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles, state media reported.

“The number one provider for that (expansion) will be Russia,” Cha said. “For the United States, this is a real problem … The Ukraine war is about the best thing that could happen to Kim Jong Un.”

The White House has warned that Russian aid to North Korea’s weapons program could have consequences for South Korea.

On Tuesday, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre told a news briefing that the growing Russia-North Korea relationship “should be of great concern to anyone interested in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

Cha said, however, the United States can be limited in the ability to slow the flow of weapons between Russia and Korea, without the risk of direct war.

“(The Biden administration) is paying more attention, but on the policy side, I don’t see any signs of what they’re going to do about it,” he said.