North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has taken a bold diplomatic gamble by supplying troops and stockpiles of weapons to Russia to support its war against Ukraine. The deployment provides timely foreign aid for Russia’s war efforts, with North Korean troops fighting alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region.
The arrangement brings numerous benefits for North Korea, including much-needed cash and diplomatic leverage. Mr. Kim is receiving billions of dollars’ worth of food, oil, cash, and advanced weapons systems from Russia that will help his regime endure international sanctions and upgrade its conventional armed forces.
North Korea’s economy has been devastated by American-led U.N. sanctions, which have banned all major exports and sharply curtailed oil imports. The pandemic further crippled the North’s economy. However, the war in Ukraine has provided an opportunity for Russia to use up troops and ammunition, and North Korea had plenty of both to offer.
The courtship started when North Korea invited Russia’s then-defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, to a massive weapons parade in Pyongyang last year. The two leaders signed a treaty of mutual defense and cooperation in June, which led to the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
North Korea has earned up to $5.5 billion through arms deals with Russia, according to estimates. In return, Moscow is providing oil, food, and upgrades to North Korea’s military equipment. The arrangement also gives North Korea valuable battlefield insights for the first time in decades, including innovations in drone use that are changing modern warfare.
However, there are risks associated with Mr. Kim’s gamble. Some South Korean analysts doubt that collaboration between Pyongyang and Moscow will endure due to differences in their economies and interests. Moreover, the drain on its supplies may weaken North Korea at home, making it difficult for the country to fight a war in Korea even if it wanted to.
The new stream of revenues and weapons technologies from Russia will cushion North Korea from U.N. sanctions and embolden Mr. Kim’s postures toward Washington and its allies. It remains to be seen if President-elect Trump seeks to resume his personal diplomacy with Mr. Kim.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/17/world/asia/north-korea-russia-military-deal.html