Kathrine Frich
Putin recently bragged about this growing relationship.
Global politics often resembles a delicate balancing act.
When two unpredictable leaders suddenly become close friends, their neighbors immediately start to worry.
Right now, a major superpower is watching a new alliance form right on its doorstep.
Losing the grip
According to Forbes cited by Digi24, officials in Beijing are deeply concerned about the growing partnership between Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.
This fresh friendship threatens to weaken Chinese control over the region. Forbes noted that North Korea is steadily building confidence as Russian support flows across the border.
“Chinese leader Xi Jinping is also concerned that the growing ties between Putin and Kim Jong Un will reduce his influence over Pyongyang,” the magazine reported.
Billions in weapons
Forbes estimates that Pyongyang could make up to $14.4 billion by selling weapons and sending troops to Russia.
That money buys a lot of dangerous technology. The isolated nation might soon get its hands on Russian jet engines and artificial intelligence drones.
“With Russia’s help, North Korea’s nuclear program and space capabilities are accelerating, which is encouraging Kim Jong-un,” Forbes stated.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is basically serving as a live testing ground for North Korean missiles. Their troops are also gaining real modern combat experience on the front lines.
Shifting the balance
All this military growth creates a massive headache for China. Beijing prefers a quiet neighbor, not an unpredictable one.
A bolder North Korea might trigger a severe reaction from other regional powers. In response to the growing threat, South Korea, Japan, and the United States could quickly decide to boost their joint security operations. Tokyo and Seoul might even start developing their own nuclear arsenals to protect themselves.
The numbers show exactly where Pyongyang is looking for help. Over the last year and a half, Russian and North Korean officials held 23 high-level meetings, while Chinese leaders only met with them eight times.
An unpredictable neighbor
Putin recently bragged about this growing relationship. Just last month, the Russian president announced that both countries were coordinating their efforts across all areas to ensure regional security.
But for the Chinese government, this creates major problems. The historic relationship between Beijing and Pyongyang has always involved plenty of quiet tension.
“As Moscow deepens its military and strategic ties with Pyongyang, Beijing risks losing some of its influence over North Korea, while also facing a more unpredictable neighbor on its doorstep,” Forbes summarized.
Sources: Digi24, Forbes
