Just last week, North Korea opened its borders to China and Russia, its first post-pandemic visitors. North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un, flanked by the Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu and the Chinese Politburo member Li Hongzhong, all attended the military parade celebrating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice, according to North Korean state media. The message that China and Russia sent was clear: North Korea has their full support, despite its acceleration in development of nuclear weapons.
During last Thursday’s parade, North Korea showed off their new drones, as well as a few of their short-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. Earlier that week, Kim showed Shoigu, the first Russian defense minister to visit North Korea ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, North Korea’s defense collection that contained ballistic missiles banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions. However, while these resolutions were originally adopted with support from Russia and China, now the two countries are preventing the U.N. from punishing North Korea, despite its usage of banned missiles.
“China and Russia are special partners for North Korea at this moment. 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,” says Wi Sun-lac, the previous South Korean ambassador to Russia. Despite signing the armistice agreement in 1953, the war between North and South Korea never officially ended because there was no peace treaty.
According to Pyongyang’s version of its history, this was due to the South Korean and American aggression. Now, North Korea celebrates this day as “Victory Day,” while it also marked the beginning of the South Korean security alliance with the United States.
The efforts of China and Russia to help North Korea reduce the United States’ influence in the region. In return, Pyongyang has now become a vocal Moscow supporter, and it has even been one of the five countries to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the official Pyongyang report, Russia and North Korea have been strengthening their “military friendship and cooperation” so they can “cope with the everchanging regional and international security environment.” When the United States suspected that Russia was buying artillery shells from North Korea, Pyongyang denied that claim. On the other hand, the South Koreans have been doing the exact opposite of their Northern neighbors, aiding the Ukrainians with new military supplies.
“The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea,” remarked Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, in a news conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. As of now, the United States, South Korea, and Japan have all been increasing their security operations to prepare if North Korea ever recommences the war. However, North Korea, China, and Russia have been keeping more to themselves, and their solidarity is clear, according to ambassador Wi.
During last Thursday’s parade, North Korea showed off their new drones, as well as a few of their short-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads. Earlier that week, Kim showed Shoigu, the first Russian defense minister to visit North Korea ever since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, North Korea’s defense collection that contained ballistic missiles banned by U.N. Security Council resolutions. However, while these resolutions were originally adopted with support from Russia and China, now the two countries are preventing the U.N. from punishing North Korea, despite its usage of banned missiles.
“China and Russia are special partners for North Korea at this moment. 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,” says Wi Sun-lac, the previous South Korean ambassador to Russia. Despite signing the armistice agreement in 1953, the war between North and South Korea never officially ended because there was no peace treaty.
According to Pyongyang’s version of its history, this was due to the South Korean and American aggression. Now, North Korea celebrates this day as “Victory Day,” while it also marked the beginning of the South Korean security alliance with the United States.
The efforts of China and Russia to help North Korea reduce the United States’ influence in the region. In return, Pyongyang has now become a vocal Moscow supporter, and it has even been one of the five countries to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the official Pyongyang report, Russia and North Korea have been strengthening their “military friendship and cooperation” so they can “cope with the everchanging regional and international security environment.” When the United States suspected that Russia was buying artillery shells from North Korea, Pyongyang denied that claim. On the other hand, the South Koreans have been doing the exact opposite of their Northern neighbors, aiding the Ukrainians with new military supplies.
“The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea,” remarked Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, in a news conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky. As of now, the United States, South Korea, and Japan have all been increasing their security operations to prepare if North Korea ever recommences the war. However, North Korea, China, and Russia have been keeping more to themselves, and their solidarity is clear, according to ambassador Wi.