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How worrying is the Putin-Kim Jong Un alliance?

2024-06-18 09:39:00, Kosova & Bota CNA
How worrying is the Putin-Kim Jong Un alliance?
Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin, photo courtesy of the BBC

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's reported plans to visit Russia this month have caused concern among the US and its allies.

He and President Vladimir Putin intend to discuss the possibility of North Korea providing Moscow with weapons to support its war in Ukraine, US officials say.

On the surface, an arms deal between North Korea and Russia makes sense. Moscow desperately needs weapons, especially ammunition and artillery shells for the war in Ukraine, and Pyongyang has them in abundance.

On the other hand, sanctions-starved North Korea is in desperate need of money and food. More than three years of border closures, not to mention the breakdown of talks with the United States in 2019, have left the country more isolated than ever.

The United States has warned of a possible arms deal between the two countries for some time, but a top-level meeting between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin catapults this into the next realm.

While the priority for the US, certainly in the short term, seems to be stopping North Korean weapons from reaching the front line in Ukraine. 

Yesterday, South Korea's intelligence service reported that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu had suggested Russia, China and North Korea hold joint naval exercises similar to those conducted by the US, South Korea and Japan.

But by far the most disturbing demand Kim might make is that Putin provide him with advanced weapons technology or know-how to help him make advances in his nuclear weapons program.

However, officials in Seoul believe that cooperation at this level is unlikely, as it could end up being strategically dangerous for Russia.

Part of US strategy since the Russian invasion of Ukraine has been to release intelligence to try to prevent deals from being reached. North Korea and Russia have so far denied any suggestion that they are looking to trade arms./ Translated by the BBC





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