North Korea and Russia’s hot-and-cold relationship rapidly heats up



Analysis North Korea and Russia’s hot-and-cold relationship rapidly heats up Reported arms deal between the two less about solidarity and more about Kim Jong Un’s needs for hard cash Edward Howell October 7, 2022 SHARE COPY LINK FACEBOOK X LINKEDIN MASTODON Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea Kim Jong-un in Russky Island, Vladivostok, April 25, 2019. \| Image: President of Russia In a year when North Korea and Russia have made numerous affirmations of their bilateral relations, few were astonished when U.S. intelligence assessments suggested that Moscow is seeking to purchase military supplies, rockets and ammunition from Pyongyang. Facing the bite of sanctions amid the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is desperate to acquire any supplies, notwithstanding their origin. It would be a winning deal for Kim Jong Un as well: The regime is perpetually cash-strapped and wants maximum concessions from any state, friend or foe, when it can get it. While the DPRK quickly Read More © Korea Risk Group. All rights reserved. No part of this content may be reproduced, distributed, or used for commercial purposes without prior written permission from Korea Risk Group. LATEST ANALYSIS 01North Korea’s politburo meeting hints at secret changes to senior officials 02The bureaucracy test: Signs to look for before a Trump-Kim summit 03China has reasons to like Trump’s North Korea outreach — and reasons to worry 04North Korea’s old alliance with Tanzania quietly finds new life 05North Korea has named its price for reopening UK’s embassy in Pyongyang 06Why Trump’s new counter-cybercrime model curiously leaves out North Korea 07The Kremlin veteran tasked with keeping Russia-North Korea’s alliance on track 08North Korea’s imports of sanctioned goods rise as China trade slows

Analysis

North Korea and Russia’s hot-and-cold relationship rapidly heats up

Reported arms deal between the two less about solidarity and more about Kim Jong Un’s needs for hard cash

Edward Howell October 7, 2022

North Korea and Russia’s hot-and-cold relationship rapidly heats up

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea Kim Jong-un in Russky Island, Vladivostok, April 25, 2019. | Image: President of Russia

In a year when North Korea and Russia have made numerous affirmations of their bilateral relations, few were astonished when U.S. intelligence assessments suggested that Moscow is seeking to purchase military supplies, rockets and ammunition from Pyongyang.

Facing the bite of sanctions amid the war in Ukraine, Vladimir Putin is desperate to acquire any supplies, notwithstanding their origin. It would be a winning deal for Kim Jong Un as well: The regime is perpetually cash-strapped and wants maximum concessions from any state, friend or foe, when it can get it.

While the DPRK quickly

North Korea and Russia’s hot-and-cold relationship rapidly heats up

LATEST ANALYSIS

Similar Articles

About the Author

Edward Howell