Kenneth Glad
Friendships on the global stage can pivot in an instant. When two isolated leaders suddenly form a tight bond, the rest of the world has to pay attention. Right now, a booming trade in weapons and troops is shifting the balance of power, and one massive neighbor is watching with deep unease.
The diplomatic romance between Moscow and Pyongyang just hit a new milestone. According to Reuters, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un promised on Tuesday to “expand and deepen” joint work with Russia.
This pledge arrived directly in a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Standing firm, Kim celebrated their shared alliance and backed the ongoing military campaign in Ukraine.
He declared his belief that Russia would win the conflict. Kim described the invasion as a “sacred war for defending the security interests of the country and international justice,” Reuters reports.
The North Korean leader also promised his “invariable support” for both Putin and his citizens, stepping up his rhetoric in response to a recent letter from Moscow.
Cash and combat
Warm words often hide massive commercial realities. The Russian military is burning through cash and losing thousands of soldiers every month, Forbes noted.
To plug those gaps, Moscow turned to its neighbor for serious help. Intelligence officials in Seoul believe Pyongyang dispatched upwards of 16,000 fighters across the border starting in October 2024.
Those deployments come alongside massive shipments of artillery shells and missiles, earning the North Korean regime billions of dollars in much-needed revenue.
Pyongyang gets something highly valuable in return. The isolated nation gains access to advanced Russian military technology, including modern systems for submarines and drones.
The watching giant
All this heavy trading has captured the attention of Beijing. Chinese leaders worry a stronger, richer North Korea will bring serious instability to the region.
Behind the scenes, Russian and North Korean officials have met frequently over the last year and a half. In fact, Forbes highlighted that these high-level visits outnumber meetings between China and North Korea by nearly three to one.
Traditionally, Beijing prefers its smaller neighbor to remain quiet and entirely dependent. Now, Chinese officials fear Kim will act much more boldly with Russian technology in his arsenal.
The Chinese public seems to share these doubts. While social media users in China openly support Russia, many view North Korea as a thankless nuisance rather than a true friend.
Sources: Reuters, Forbes
