Short answers, pulled from the story.
The Soviet Union occupied the northern part of the Korean Peninsula after Japan surrendered in 1945. Moscow drew a dividing line at the 38th parallel to share control with Washington.
The Democratic People's Republic of Korea officially emerged on the 9th of September 1948. Just three days later, the Soviet Union recognized this new state as the sole legitimate authority over the entire peninsula.
Stalin concluded that the Truman administration would not intervene because Soviet intelligence had gathered information about limitations in US atomic bomb stockpiles and defense program cuts. This assessment influenced his decision regarding Kim Il Sung initiating the invasion of South Korea.
President Vladimir Putin traveled to Pyongyang in June 2024 for the first time since 2000 to sign the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership which formalized a defense treaty between the two nations. By November 2024, both countries had fully implemented the partnership agreement.
Intelligence sources estimate that over 10,000 North Korean workers were sent to Russia in 2024 with expectations exceeding 50,000 total. Many escapees described slave-like conditions involving long working hours often exceeding 18 hours per day.