Vladimir Putin Visits North Korea to Seek Allies and Distance from China
There are moments when Russia, with nearly 146 million people over 17,234,033 square kilometers (11.5% of the planet’s landmass), may need a country 143 times smaller, home to just over 25 million people. This is the case with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) at present.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, amidst the enduring war in Ukraine, aims to show that his country is not completely under China’s influence. While China assists Moscow economically, it refrains from providing weaponry. On the other hand, North Korea can supply Russia with a variety of arms it produces.
Like Russia, North Korea pays little heed to sanctions from the U.S. and international bodies. For nearly a year now, the Russian military has been using North Korean weapons, and on June 19, Putin visited Pyongyang to formalize and expand this cooperation.
For over seventy years, the Marxist regime in Pyongyang has managed its own foreign policy while maintaining strong ties with both Beijing and Moscow. Concerned about its security, North Korea has amassed a significant arsenal and occasionally tests nuclear missiles in the Sea of Japan. The regime also produces and accumulates weapons and ammunition substantial enough to be sold to interested parties.
These factors explain Vladimir Putin’s visit to Pyongyang. He knows Kim Jong-un, who visited him twice in Russia’s Far East in April 2019 and September 2023.
“Strategic Partnership Agreement”
Upon arrival, Putin expressed gratitude to North Korea for its support in the “special military operation” Russia initiated in Ukraine. He told Kim Jong-un, “We greatly appreciate your systematic and steadfast support of Russian policies, including on the Ukrainian issue.”
In return, the Russian president announced his support for North Korea against U.S. “pressures, blackmail, and military threats.” Plans include establishing commercial and security systems between Moscow and Pyongyang beyond Western control. These developments led Kim Jong-un to mention a “new era” in his country’s relations with Russia and to label Putin as North Korea’s “best friend.”
The signing of a “strategic partnership agreement” in the North Korean capital on June 19 outlines the cooperation between North Korea and Russia. It involves “mutual assistance in case of aggression,” as Putin stated. The full text of the agreement remains undisclosed, but Putin clarified that it pertains solely to Russia and Korea, both pursuing independent foreign policies. Notably, China was conspicuously absent from these discussions.
A Military Ally
By significantly aligning with North Korea more than before, Putin demonstrates Russia’s need for a military partner, with China carefully avoiding such assistance. While Xi Jinping and Putin professed an “unlimited friendship” when the Ukraine conflict emerged, China has refrained from fully supporting Russia’s actions there. China’s focus remains on expanding trade with an isolated Russia due to the war. However, military assistance to Russia could adversely affect China’s international trade relations.
The hope that the Ukraine conflict continues lingers in Beijing.
On another front, China may benefit from Russia facing intense criticisms and sanctions from the West. Condemnations of Russia’s actions in Ukraine divert attention from U.S. and recently EU criticisms of numerous Chinese commercial practices. Moreover, references to human rights violations in China, especially in Xinjiang and Tibet regions, have received less attention.
Additionally, the desire for the Ukraine conflict to persist in Beijing persists. Requests from certain American or European leaders to influence Putin towards ending the war have slim chances of success with Xi Jinping. Irked by the Pyongyang meeting, Beijing’s response was muted, emphasizing it was a bilateral exchange.
In the U.S., Putin’s visit to North Korea garnered comments. White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby viewed the defense pact between Russia and North Korea as a sign of Russia’s desperation for foreign aid in the Ukrainian war. The U.S. and the UN are aware of Russia using North Korean ballistic missiles, breaching UN Security Council resolutions, to strike targets in Ukraine.
With Putin’s travels revealing potential international support, his future trips may include countries like Cuba, maintaining strong links with Russia, and others involved in the BRICS group with Russia and China. However, international travels for Putin have become risky since the International Criminal Court accused him of child deportations, prompting an arrest warrant. Nonetheless, North Korea offers a realm where such legal entanglements are absent, allowing Putin to showcase independence from China while maintaining essential economic ties.