Janice R. Andrews
South Korea’s SEOUL Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Kim Jong Un of North Korea inked an agreement on Wednesday promising to help one another in the event of an attack, demonstrating their growing closeness. In the midst of rising tensions with the United States and its allies, this important deal, achieved during Putin’s infrequent visit to North Korea, represents a turning point in their military and economic cooperation.
The arrangement highlights the deepening alignment between Pyongyang and Moscow and may ease the supply of advanced military technology to North Korea in exchange for weapons that Russia sorely needs for its continuing struggle in Ukraine. Officials from the United States have issued a warning, stating that such interactions might greatly increase North Korea’s nuclear arsenal and hence increase the threat to the Asia-Pacific area.
Referring to the war as a “special military operation,” Kim Jong Un declared his “full support” for Russia’s operations in Ukraine in a symbolic show of unity. This declaration was made at a stately welcoming ceremony held at Kim Il Sung Square in the heart of Pyongyang. The occasion was marked by military parades, sizable crowds, and stately portraits of the two leaders.
During his first visit to North Korea in twenty-four years, Putin had official discussions at Kumsusan Palace. The talks emphasized gratitude for one another, with Putin lauding North Korea for its unwavering support of Russian policy, particularly those pertaining to Ukraine. He presented their collaboration as a protest against the US and its allies’ “imperialist policy”. In return, Kim Jong Un hailed the encounter as the start of a “new period of high prosperity” in relations between North Korea and Russia.
The hours-long diplomatic exchange between Kim and Putin included both long-delegation meetings and one-on-one conversations. At Pyongyang International Airport, the North Korean leader personally greeted Putin, a show of goodwill and strategic significance for the meeting. According to official media, their talks were profound and emotional, signifying the “invincibility and durability” of their bilateral ties.
Putin’s visit to North Korea, which comes after his first visit in 2000, is indicative of Russia’s ongoing efforts to fortify its relations with the isolated nation. Kim’s trip to the far east of Russia last year served as another evidence of the strengthening ties between the two countries.
Experts predict that the recently inked agreement would strengthen the anti-Western and anti-US alliance and open the door for a greater arms trade. Concerns of increased weaponry and intelligence exchange, which might support Russia’s military actions in Ukraine and strengthen North Korea’s strategic capabilities, have been raised by this development in the West.
The expanding coalition drew criticism from U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who implied that Russia is desperate and looking for allies who will provide it the means to continue its aggression in Ukraine. He affirmed that Russia has been receiving substantial munitions and other military supplies from North Korea.
U.S. intelligence has expressed concern over the potential for Russia to give North Korea nuclear submarine and ballistic missile technologies in reaction to these advancements. Should these exchanges be verified, North Korea could be able to deploy its first nuclear-armed submarine, which would drastically tip the strategic balance in the area.
Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied any illegal weaponry deliveries, which would be against resolutions of the UN Security Council that Russia has always backed. But Russia’s recent veto in the Security Council to stop the sanctions monitoring on North Korea has come under fire, raising the possibility that it was an attempt to keep North Korea hidden from the world.
The South Korean Foreign Ministry has stressed that any collaboration should not jeopardize the peace and stability of the area and has called for adherence to the current restrictions. According to analysts, North Korea could be able to obtain vital natural resources and oil to sustain its faltering economy and missile program, which would further reduce the impact of international sanctions.
The visit is seen by Kim Jong Un as a major political and personal win. Seeing Putin with a world leader like this helps him in his own country and encourages him to follow in the footsteps of his grandpa and father, who were both highly respected. The agreement with Russia provides financial advantages in addition to a chance to strengthen the legitimacy of his government.
With North Korea conducting regular nuclear testing and the United States, South Korea, and Japan stepping up their joint military exercises, tensions on the Korean Peninsula are still quite high. Because an armistice rather than a peace treaty was signed to conclude the Korean War, it is still formally unresolved.
Putin is anticipated to visit Vietnam as part of his diplomatic tour after wrapping up his visit to North Korea. This visit underscores the intricate and dynamic relationships in the area and comes after President Joe Biden’s recent visit to Vietnam, which improved ties between the two countries.
A State Department spokesman reiterated that no nation should provide a platform to support Russia’s aggressive activities in Ukraine. The United States has condemned Vietnam for hosting Putin. The growing partnership between Russia and North Korea poses a new threat to the international community as global dynamics continue to shift.
