Pyongyang bolsters Moscow with forces and arms in Ukraine conflict
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has reinforced Vladimir Putin's troops fighting in the Ukraine war with the addition of 11,000 soldiers. This is just one of the figures cited by "The New York Times" regarding the support Pyongyang provides to Moscow in the invasion that has been ongoing since February 2022.
The American newspaper reported that Kim Jong Un provided Russia with 11,000 soldiers, but perhaps more importantly, from Moscow's perspective—"extensive weapon supplies." The report highlights 20,000 containers sent from North Korea to Russia, containing, among other things, artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and rocket systems.
"The New York Times" emphasizes that the leader from Pyongyang is, of course, not acting selflessly. It is estimated that North Korea earned up to $5.5 billion from arms transactions, as well as $572 million from military support. These sums are of enormous significance for the isolated economy.
That's not all. In exchange for support, North Korea can also anticipate receiving deliveries worth billions of dollars in oil, food, and technologies that enable Kim Jong Un to modernize the military, which faces constraints due to Western sanctions.
Strategic partnership of two dictators
In mid-November 2024, Kim Jong Un signed a decree ratifying a strategic partnership treaty with Russia. It obligates both parties to mutual military assistance. The Russian State Duma and the Federation Council had previously approved the law ratifying this agreement, and Putin's signature finalized it.
The treaty between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation includes a commitment to mutual military assistance in the event of threats to their sovereignty.
One of the agreement's key elements is support in military conflict situations. Such a declaration means that in the event of a military attack on one of these countries, the other is committed to active support, which can affect the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, tensions are escalating on the Korean Peninsula. In January of this year, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un called in a speech before the National Assembly for a "physical severance" from South Korea.
He also ordered the constitutional recognition of South Korea as an "enemy state" and the removal of certain terms like "peaceful reunification" from the constitution.
In accordance with these guidelines, the "eye-catching" Unification Monument in Pyongyang and three agencies associated with promoting inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation were eliminated. In October, parts of the roads connecting the Korean states were demolished.
