From Hermit to Comrade: North Korea's Grand Russian Jump
Strategic Daily #27 provides context and assessment to the relationship between Russia and North Korea, signalling a heightened threat to Indo-Pacific norms.
Observers venturing beyond mainstream news sources might have noticed a developing closeness between Russia and North Korea. This evolving partnership is highlighted by North Korea's ammunition support to Russia and reciprocally, Russia's assistance in rocket technology to North Korea. A recent milestone in this partnership is North Korea's successful test of a new high-thrust solid fuel engine, as reported by KCNA.
Conducted on November 11 and 14, these ground tests evaluated the performance of the engines for the first and second stages. The tests confirmed the reliable and stable functioning of North Korea's established technologies in designing and manufacturing high-thrust solid fuel engines.
These engines are earmarked for new medium-range ballistic missiles, aimed at bolstering the strategic offensive capabilities of the DPRK's armed forces. This development comes against a backdrop of escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Bombs are rockets are one thing - but arguably a stronger weapon is economic and now the two axis powers are growing closer in this respect.
At the heart of these developments is the 10th North Korea-Russia Joint Economic Committee, initiated to actualise agreements from the North Korea-Russia summit in September. This committee illustrated a deepening economic and technological cooperation between the two countries, an indication of progression beyond diplomatic ties. The presence of high-level officials, including Russian Minister of Natural Resources Aleksandr Kozlov and Minister of Sports Oleg Matyshin, further added weight to the importance of these talks.
The agenda, while not explicitly detailed, is expected to encompass various economic cooperation plans, including food aid, logistics cooperation focusing on Rajin and Khasan, and the potential dispatch of North Korean workers to Russia. These discussions highlight that the approach being taken is multi-layered with many upsides.
Cultural exchanges and symbolic gestures, such as laying wreaths at the Liberation Tower and visiting the statues of President Kim Il-sung and National Defense Chairman Kim Jong-il, likely further enhance relations. Such actions, while symbolic, have profound implications in international diplomacy, signaling a strengthening bond and shared ideologies.
The importance of this alliance for North Korea and Russia now calls for closer attention from observers. For North Korea, it presents an opportunity to alleviate its economic challenges and gain technological support, crucial for its continued pursuit of military modernization and nuclear capabilities. For Russia, facing international sanctions due to its invasion of Ukraine, North Korea offers a strategic partner outside the influence of Western sanctions.
IMPACT ASSESSMENT ON INDO-PACIFIC POWER BALANCE
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