North Korea and Russia’s new agreement to help defend each other if attacked has renewed global fears about their deepening cooperation over the war in Ukraine.

But while the mutual defense commitments endorsed by Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin may have taken center stage, the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership goes well beyond military ties to formalize the two countries’ stance on another issue of shared concern — international sanctions on the rogue regimes.

Despite not mentioning the word “sanctions” anywhere in its 23 articles, the new treaty makes clear that both countries reject unilateral