North Korea opened its borders for the first time since the pandemic began more than three years ago to welcome its first guests, China and Russia.
According to several photos from North Korean state media on Friday, July 28, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Politburo member Li Hongzhong watched a vast military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
It sent a clear message to all the other countries: Russia and China are standing by North Korea despite its nuclear and weapons buildup. It also showed that, after more than three years of strict border closures and quarantine, North Korea is slowly beginning to open its borders again.
On July 27, Kim guided Shoigu through a defense exhibition featuring ballistic missiles banned by the U.N. Security Council resolution. Recently, China and Russia have hindered the council’s efforts to punish North Korea after multiple tests of the missiles.
Wi Sung-lac was the South Korean ambassador to Russia before his retirement.
“China and Russia are special partners for North Korea at this moment,” Sung-lac said. “In effect, China and Russia are sort of enablers for North Korea to go ahead with the nuclear and missile program. … That’s very much worrisome and frustrating.”
The delegations’ visits came because Beijing and Moscow have drawn North Korea’s capital Pyongyang closer to reduce U.S. influence. China has approached North Korea after the collapse of U.S.-North Korea diplomatic talks in 2019. North Korea is also a vocal supporter of Moscow and became one of only five countries that did not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the United States, South Korea, and Japan are increasing security after the events of North Korea, Russia, and China.
In a meeting at the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Chinese and Russian “obstructionism” encouraged North Korea “to launch ballistic missiles with impunity and advance its development of more sophisticated and dangerous weapons.”
The three countries’ leaders will likely meet next month to hold a summit.
According to several photos from North Korean state media on Friday, July 28, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, along with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chinese Politburo member Li Hongzhong watched a vast military parade marking the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
It sent a clear message to all the other countries: Russia and China are standing by North Korea despite its nuclear and weapons buildup. It also showed that, after more than three years of strict border closures and quarantine, North Korea is slowly beginning to open its borders again.
On July 27, Kim guided Shoigu through a defense exhibition featuring ballistic missiles banned by the U.N. Security Council resolution. Recently, China and Russia have hindered the council’s efforts to punish North Korea after multiple tests of the missiles.
Wi Sung-lac was the South Korean ambassador to Russia before his retirement.
“China and Russia are special partners for North Korea at this moment,” Sung-lac said. “In effect, China and Russia are sort of enablers for North Korea to go ahead with the nuclear and missile program. … That’s very much worrisome and frustrating.”
The delegations’ visits came because Beijing and Moscow have drawn North Korea’s capital Pyongyang closer to reduce U.S. influence. China has approached North Korea after the collapse of U.S.-North Korea diplomatic talks in 2019. North Korea is also a vocal supporter of Moscow and became one of only five countries that did not condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the United States, South Korea, and Japan are increasing security after the events of North Korea, Russia, and China.
In a meeting at the U.N. Security Council, U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said that Chinese and Russian “obstructionism” encouraged North Korea “to launch ballistic missiles with impunity and advance its development of more sophisticated and dangerous weapons.”
The three countries’ leaders will likely meet next month to hold a summit.
