ABSTRACT
After the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) was proclaimed in 1948 under the auspices of the Soviet Union, ideology and geographic proximity bonded the two communist states. The Soviet Union took North Korea under its wing. During the Korean War, Moscow secretly provided war materials, advisors, and troops for North Korea and, in doing so, played a critical role in preserving communist rule in the North. In July 1961, Moscow and Pyongyang signed the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation, and Mutual Assistance. The alliance treaty, which stipulated automatic military intervention by the parties in case of war, became the cornerstone of Moscow-Pyongyang relations during the Cold War.
