When Russian President Vladimir Putin visited North Korea to announce a new military partnership a few days ago, he was given the trademark military spectacle that Pyongyang has perfected.
Soldiers marching in unison, thousands of cheering children and highly choreographed groups of dancers and singers.
No expense was spared to give the illusion of grandeur.
Kim Jong Un declared his "full support and solidarity" for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, while Putin thanked Kim for his "unwavering support".
Then, to top it off, the two signed a surprise military pact declaring each side would assist the other in the face of aggression.
At first glance, the trip could be viewed as a success.
But it's quite possible the new bromance between the Russian president and Kim Jong Un will only further weaken Russia's position in the international arena.
It certainly signals just how far Moscow has fallen since its botched invasion of Ukraine.
Cut off from the most advanced economies, it's now turning to one of the poorest and most isolated for help.
What's worse is the deal may backfire and lead to its enemy, Ukraine, receiving military support from one of the most advanced arms suppliers in the world.
North Korean shells found in Ukraine
It was only a few years ago that Russia was supporting sanctions designed to punish North Korea's nuclear weapons program.
It saw a nuclear-armed Pyongyang as a destabilising figure.
But with sanctions constricting the Russian economy and its war machine, Moscow has been forced to tap into North Korea's abundant supplies of Soviet-era artillery shells.
Both Pyongyang and Russia deny these claims, but satellite imagery and unmistakably North Korean missiles being discovered in Ukraine suggest otherwise.
There is also a concern North Korea could even provide ballistic missiles for Russia, as well as cheap labour and soldiers.
"North Korea's regime shows little regard for human life, even the lives of its own people," North Korea expert Sung-Yoon Lee from the Wilson Centre told the BBC.
"I would not be surprised if Putin and Kim work out a deal for North Korea to send into Russia — not only labourers and technicians — but perhaps even combat troops in the months to come."
North Korea talks tough and often touts its latest military test as a roaring success, but much of this is viewed as bluster, rather than bona fide.
Cut off from the world, North Korea's military is far less advanced than its southern neighbour. Just last month, one of its satellite tests failed spectacularly.
So it's no doubt hoping to access some of Russia's advanced military technology as part of this new partnership.
But, analysts are highly doubtful Russia would ever share its most prized military secrets.
Think of how many decades Australia and its ally the United States have been building trust and cooperation for a deal like AUKUS to be possible.
The new alliance between Russia and North Korea is only just getting started and trust and transparency are in short supply in autocracies.
South Korea warns of red line
The new "comprehensive partnership agreement" signed between Moscow and North Korea is being touted as an alliance between the two.
At first, it was unclear what the deal entailed. There was no detail about what "aggression" would trigger the pact, or what "support" the pact would prompt.
North Korea's official Korean News Agency says the deal means if either country gets invaded and is pushed into a state of war, the other must deploy "all means at its disposal without delay", including "military and other assistance".
South Korea has responded furiously.
It had warned Russia to not cross any "red lines" before the visit.
It appears the red line may have now been crossed.
South Korea's National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin announced the country would review its stance on not providing military support for Ukraine.
He also announced another 243 Russian items would be subject to sanctions, bringing the total to 1,402.
South Korea could change its stance on supplying Ukraine
South Korea is an emerging global powerhouse for defence exports. In July 2022, the country signed a landmark defence deal with Poland worth $12.4 billion — its largest yet.
Already the ninth-largest arms exporter, Seoul wants to own the world number four spot by 2027.
But so far, South Korea has not provided lethal aid — or weapons — directly to Ukraine due to its Foreign Trade Act, something that only allows it to provide non-lethal support.
South Korean artillery shells have ended up in Ukraine, but only via sales to third-party US.
But Seoul is now talking about a possible change of stance on sending arms to Ukraine — and that is significant.
The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently reported South Korea's stockpiles of howitzer rounds could give Ukraine an important boost.
"Specific measures will be revealed later, and it will be interesting to see how Russia responds, rather than revealing our plans in advance," a presidential official told reporters.
Vladimir Putin warned South Korea that providing weapons to Ukraine would be a "big mistake".
But it's a threat that may do little to change South Korea's thinking given Putin may have already crossed a red line.
Moscow has already shown it's now firmly on the side of North Korea, recently vetoing a United Nations resolution to renew the UN Panel of Experts that monitors sanctions on North Korea.
On his recent trip to North Korea and Vietnam, Vladimir Putin argued he was building an important counterweight to the US hegemony in the region.
But Russia's embrace of North Korea has only pushed the US and its regional allies closer together.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has spent a lot of political capital casting aside historical grievances with former coloniser Japan to forge ahead and build new military ties with Tokyo.
The resolve to make the new trilateral partnership a success will now only be hardened and efforts to deepen military partnerships with others in the region, including Australia, will be made.
South Korea has flagged an interest in cooperating with the defence technology pact AUKUS, something Australia has warmly welcomed.
North Korea's ultimate goal is survival.
It knows it has vastly inferior firepower compared to its rivals. Talk of winning grand wars is little more than empty rhetoric, and perhaps the only distraction it can muster for its impoverished and starving population.
So, any extra friends it can get is likely a good thing.
For Russia, it is clinging to the idea that it is still a global powerhouse. But, as the saying goes: "You are the company you keep."