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 01What Yoon Suk-yeol’s martial law gambit means for the Korean Peninsula 02Crop data suggests North Korea enjoyed strong harvest despite summer floods 03North Korea appears to start work on long-stalled Russia border bridge project 04Why a reported rise in North Korean wages won’t do much to improve welfare 05Top North Korean officials get bodyguards in likely security and status upgrade 06How Trump could reshape US strategy for countering North Korean cyber threats 07North Korea reveals new vertical take-off drones amid ‘modern warfare’ push 08How long-range strikes on Russia could impact North Korean troop deployments

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

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Edward Howell