Last week, Kim Jong Un welcomed his newly forged allies China and Russia to visit North Korea. This comes after all three countries have grown closer together as an attempt to reduce U.S. influence in the region.
Last week, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, the Defense Minister of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, and a Chinese Politburo member, Li Hongzhong, watched a massive military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
Their meeting carried out two messages to the world. First, Russia and China are now allies of North Korea, despite the huge weapons and nuclear collection of the country. Second, after almost three years of firm border control, North Korea is slowly opening to the world.
Early last week, Kim guided Shoigu through a defense exhibition showcasing ballistic missiles that are banned under U.N. Security Council regulations with support from Russia and China. Recently, however, China and Russia have tried to undermine the council’s attempts to punish North Korea for holding onto the 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,” Wi Sung lac, a former South Korea ambassador to Russia, said.
The Korean War armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953. However, both Koreas are technically still at war because there was no official peace treaty. After World War II, the then Soviet Union helped create a communist state in North Korea and supported the then leader Kim Il Sung’s invasion of the South. While Russia helped mainly diplomatically, China fought in the frontlines with North Korea. Both counties historically helped North Korea become what it is today.
The countries’ visits came as China and Russia are drawing the DPRK (the official name for North Korea) closer to try to keep U.S. influence out of the area. The Chinese have approached North Korea ever since the collapse of U.S.-North Korea talks in 2019. In the meantime, North Korea has been a supporter of Russia, going as far as to be one of the five countries to abstain from condemning Russia’s attack of Ukraine (the other five are Belarus, Eritrea, Russia, and Syria).
Russia’s visit to North Korea was the exact opposite of South Korea’s president’s visit to Kiev, which requested new military supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
“The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean president, said, referring to the invasion of South Korea by the North.
“Our two parties and the two countries have had a good tradition of friendly exchanges,” spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters at a news conference. “Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit the DPRK [North Korea] and mark the occasion shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties,” she said.
Last week, the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Un, the Defense Minister of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, and a Chinese Politburo member, Li Hongzhong, watched a massive military parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Korean War armistice agreement.
Their meeting carried out two messages to the world. First, Russia and China are now allies of North Korea, despite the huge weapons and nuclear collection of the country. Second, after almost three years of firm border control, North Korea is slowly opening to the world.
Early last week, Kim guided Shoigu through a defense exhibition showcasing ballistic missiles that are banned under U.N. Security Council regulations with support from Russia and China. Recently, however, China and Russia have tried to undermine the council’s attempts to punish North Korea for holding onto the 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,” Wi Sung lac, a former South Korea ambassador to Russia, said.
The Korean War armistice agreement was signed on July 27, 1953. However, both Koreas are technically still at war because there was no official peace treaty. After World War II, the then Soviet Union helped create a communist state in North Korea and supported the then leader Kim Il Sung’s invasion of the South. While Russia helped mainly diplomatically, China fought in the frontlines with North Korea. Both counties historically helped North Korea become what it is today.
The countries’ visits came as China and Russia are drawing the DPRK (the official name for North Korea) closer to try to keep U.S. influence out of the area. The Chinese have approached North Korea ever since the collapse of U.S.-North Korea talks in 2019. In the meantime, North Korea has been a supporter of Russia, going as far as to be one of the five countries to abstain from condemning Russia’s attack of Ukraine (the other five are Belarus, Eritrea, Russia, and Syria).
Russia’s visit to North Korea was the exact opposite of South Korea’s president’s visit to Kiev, which requested new military supplies and humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
“The current situation facing Ukraine reminds us of the past situation of the Republic of Korea,” Yoon Suk Yeol, South Korean president, said, referring to the invasion of South Korea by the North.
“Our two parties and the two countries have had a good tradition of friendly exchanges,” spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters at a news conference. “Having a high-level Chinese delegation visit the DPRK [North Korea] and mark the occasion shows the high importance both sides attach to our bilateral ties,” she said.