Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un have signed a new deal that includes a mutual defence pledge, one of Russia's most significant moves in Asia for years that Kim said amounted to an "alliance". Both leaders have promised that each country would come to the defence of the other if attacked.

This comes against a backdrop where the United States and its Asian allies try to gauge how far Russia could deepen support for the only country to have tested a nuclear weapon this century. 

Meanwhile, China has kept its silence on the deal but has so far refused to condemn the war and continues to trade with a heavily sanctioned Russia.

On this episode of Morning Shot, Dr Ryu Yongwook, Assistant Professor from the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at NUS and Andrew Nathan, Professor of Political Science at Columbia University share their insights.

Presented by: Audrey Siek 

Produced & Edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)

Photo credits: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP