Editor’s note: This is the first article in a series examining what China thinks of growing Russia-DPRK ties since the start of the war in Ukraine.

When it comes to North Korea’s diplomatic ties, there’s no doubt that its growing cooperation with Russia has dominated media attention since the start of the war in Ukraine.

Reports of DPRK arms sales to Russia in support of its invasion have raised alarms in the U.S. and Europe, and Kim Jong Un’s summit with Vladimir Putin in Sept. 2023 further underlined the wide scope