The North Korean leader has flipped on his dynasty’s policy of reunifying with the South,now calling it a “primary foe”. Does this spell trouble or is it business as usual in his hermit kingdom?
It would be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s first trip to North Korea in more than two decades,after he visited Kim Jong-il – current leader Kim Jong-un’s father – in 2000.
The North Korean leader has declared the South an enemy to be subjugated,through nuclear war if necessary,and has dismantled all agencies dedicated to diplomacy.
Group from Russia set to be first tourists to North Korea in four years
The cooperation outlined by the South would mark a new phase of Kim’s assistance for Russian President Vladimir Putin in his war on Ukraine.
US intelligence officials believe that North Korea,in return for its arms support,wants Russia to provide it with an array of advanced military technologies.
An extra one million shells means about 2700 rounds more per day Russia could fire at Ukraine,which is already having trouble procuring artillery and may face more difficulty if aid from the US isn’t secured.
North Korea said Seoul would be held “wholly accountable” if an irretrievable clash breaks out between the two countries.
The incident triggered heated discussions inside the US government,but Washington declined to declare him a prisoner of war.
South Korea and the US said military co-operation between North Korea and Russia would violate UN sanctions against Pyongyang and there would be a price to pay.
Greater co-operation between North Korea and Russia could throw off the delicate balance in the Indo-Pacific,a region where China has for so long pulled the puppet strings.