The rapprochement between Russia and North Korea worries NATO countries
With the aim of strengthening bilateral ties, the Russian government has sent the secretary of its Security Council, Sergei Shoigu, to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, to meet with leader Kim Jong-un on 5 June.
According to the Russian news agency TASS, the secretary travelled to North Korea on the orders of Russian President Vladimir Putin to discuss various bilateral issues. ‘The talks will cover the implementation of certain provisions of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, as well as efforts to honour the memory of North Korean soldiers who contributed to the liberation of the Kursk region,’ the Russian Security Council told the official Russian news agency.
According to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA), at the meeting, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un confirmed to Sergei Shoigu that his country ‘will unconditionally support Russia's position and foreign policies on all crucial international political issues, including the Ukrainian issue.’
This is not the first time Shoigu has made such a visit: on 21 March, he held a two-hour meeting with Kim Jong-un, during which they discussed a wide range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine, talks with the United States, and security, both on the Korean peninsula and globally, according to the secretary's statement to the media. On that occasion, Sergei Shoigu acknowledged North Korea's willingness to support his country: ‘I want to thank my Korean friends for their solidarity with Russia on all issues of world politics, and especially on the issue of Ukraine,’ he told the media.
Arms cooperation
Meanwhile, a page called Military Informer posted images on Telegram of what it described as ‘a 60 mm North Korean mortar intended for the Russian army,’ according to the post, which claimed that Russian army units were already being equipped with this type of weaponry.
With regard to North Korea, the UN Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Committee warned that Russia had delivered a unit of the Pantsir anti-aircraft system, as well as a combat vehicle of the same type.
The dangerous relationship between Russia and North Korea
For Dr. Edward Howell, the deepening link between North Korea and Russia, which was previously limited to tactical exchanges, has evolved into a more strategic and ideological alignment. Triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, this relationship has rapidly moved from arms deals for cash to military cooperation that now includes the deployment of North Korean troops on Russian soil, which, as we have seen, poses a risk to the world order.
Historically, ties between Moscow and Pyongyang have varied (depending on circumstances), but the pressure of war and sanctions has reignited a partnership that seemed dormant. Russia, grappling with isolation and a critical need for weapons, has found in North Korea a supplier of artillery and missiles. In return, Kim Jong-un's regime has secured vital food aid, financial resources and possibly advanced military technologies, all crucial to Pyongyang's survival strategy.
What sets this new alliance apart is its ideological context: both nations seek to challenge the post-Cold War security order dominated by the United States and its allies. By leveraging Russia's veto power in the United Nations, North Korea shields itself from accountability for sanctions violations and continues to expand its nuclear and missile capabilities with little fear of global retaliation, Howell said.
This new axis poses a significant challenge to global peace. Growing military cooperation between the two powers has not only strengthened Pyongyang's nuclear aspirations but also destabilised regional dynamics. Furthermore, the strengthening of this relationship undoubtedly weakens international arms control efforts and limits the effectiveness of international institutions such as the Security Council.
Furthermore, although China is watching cautiously, its response has been ambiguous. In fact, French President Emmanuel Macron himself warned China that a lack of action in the face of North Korea's support for Russia could lead to a greater NATO presence in Asia. ‘The situation in North Korea in Ukraine is a big unknown for all of us. If China does not want NATO to intervene in Southeast Asia, it should prevent it from intervening on European soil,’ he stressed.
As the alliance between North Korea and Russia consolidates, the international scene becomes increasingly uncertain and tense. Far from being a cooperation, this relationship represents a strategic alignment with common objectives: to weaken the world order and strengthen their military capabilities in the face of international isolation. In this context, the international community faces the challenge of coming up with a firm and coordinated response.