Major arms deal between Kim and Putin 'very likely,' experts say
This April 25, 2019 file photo shows North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other during their meeting at the Far East Federal University on Russky Island in Vladivostok, Russia. Experts said on Tuesday that the war in Ukraine has brought the countries closer and the two leaders could reach a major arms deal at the expected summit in Vladivostok next week. EPA-Yonhap
Russia's help would 'advance and expedite' development of North Korean weapons
By Jung Min-ho
After Russia invaded Ukraine last year, experts on North Korea warned that the conflict could lead to a dangerous partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow.
A protracted war could force the Kremlin to seek support from North Korea, which would be delighted to provide ammunition in return for Russian weapons technology, they said.
That grim scenario may be set to unfold when North Korean leader Kim Jong-un meets with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Vladivostok sometime next week, as the New York Times reported citing U.S. sources.
Speaking to The Korea Times on Tuesday, analysts said it is "very likely" that the two leaders would sign a big deal including ammunition-for-tech exchanges and joint military drills. This, they added, would likely be the beginning of a stronger North Korea-Russia partnership that will probably outlast the war in Ukraine.
"If Russia runs out of ammunition stockpiles, its front lines will collapse. North Korea, which has plenty of ammunition, can help the desperate Russians. In exchange, it will try to obtain food, fertilizer, energy and technology for advanced weapons such as nuclear-powered submarines and ICBMs," said Cho Han-bum, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, a think tank.
N. Korea will pay a price if it provides weapons to Russia: NSA Sullivan 2023-09-06 09:17 | North Korea
"Russia would not give them all to North Korea. But in the long run, North Korea is expected to receive Russian support in many of the areas of its interest, given that Moscow is desperate as long as the war continues and Pyongyang has the upper hand in negotiations," Cho added. "Such a deal used to be unthinkable because there was little Pyongyang could offer. But the war changed everything."A Ukrainian self-propelled artillery system fires at Russian positions on the front line near Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sept. 1. AP-Yonhap
There are palpable signs that Russia is running low on ammunition, with some analysts predicting that it can happen in the months ahead. A shortage of shells was what Yevgeny Prigozhin, former leader of the Wagner private mercenary group, complained about before his ill-fated mutiny in June.
Driven into a corner diplomatically, Moscow hopes to strengthen a Russia-China-North Korea military partnership, experts said. However, as Beijing remains cautious apparently because of the risk to its more globally-connected economic and diplomatic systems, China appears to have focused on reinforcing its ties to Pyongyang, said Hyun Seung-soo, another expert on Russia at the think tank.
"At the expected summit, North Korea and Russia would make a big announcement as part of their joint attempt to undermine Western unity. But whether the deal would actually materialize bears further watching as well as how far the partnership would develop," Hyun said. "I think it largely depends on how the war goes."
An official at the Ministry of Unification told reporters that many signs indicate the growing possibility of an arms deal between North Korea and Russia, saying that Pyongyang appears to have sought to improve relations in recent years.
"Any form of cooperation between North Korea and its neighboring countries should be conducted in a way that does not damage international norms and peace," the official said.
Lim Soo-suk, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also raised concern over a possible arms deal between North Korea and Russia, urging all U.N. member states to respect the Security Council's resolutions banning weapons trade with the North.
Speaking at the National Assembly the previous day, National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyou-hyun said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu proposed conducting three-way naval exercises with North Korea and China during his meeting with Kim in late July.
Experts said North Korea has no reason to reject the offer, but they remain skeptical of the effectiveness of the drills, given the poor condition of the North's navy.
North Korea has expressed support for the Kremlin throughout the war in Ukraine, but it has so far denied allegations that it provided arms to Russia.
相关推荐
-
Best smart home deal: The Amazon Smart Thermostat is just $63.99
-
Korea to conclude land acquisition for THAAD battery this week
-
Original Aunt Viv actress was seriously not happy at that 'Fresh Prince' reunion photo
-
IBA warns IOC against dropping boxing from Olympics
-
Deceased K
-
Tsitsipas wins after long wait in Miami
- 最近发表
-
- Webb scientists haven't found a rocky world with air. But now they have a plan.
- Get £75 off the new Casper Hybrid mattress with this code
- You're screwed if you want to repair the new iPad
- Twitter makes website redesign official — and no, you can't opt out
- 热浪来袭 科学应对防中暑
- 2.9 magnitude earthquake strikes near North Korea's Kilju: weather agency
- Android founder Andy Rubin accused of participating in 'sex ring' in court docs
- Mini Cooper is now electric and just as cute
- Update your BIOS: Utilities from Top Motherboard Makers
- Ridiculously strong coffee is here to keep Americans wide awake
- 随机阅读
-
- Klarna CEO reveals plan to reduce workforce by 50% and replace it with AI
- NK leader guides firing drills involving super
- Bayern Munich appoint Tuchel as new coach
- 雨城区公安分局交警特勤大队召开“大走访”开门评警活动恳谈会
- Unionized hospital workers pull out from strike
- Alcaraz powers into last 16 at Miami
- Harassment prompts a woman footballer to quit Mexico
- Tesla breaks quarterly record with 95,200 delivered cars
- To Russia, with Love
- 三大自主招生联盟考试收官 我市考生理性对待自主招生考试
- Mini Cooper is now electric and just as cute
- Westeros can't handle the perfection of this 'Game of Thrones' wedding
- 12 Places that Celebrate Women in Science
- Alcaraz powers into last 16 at Miami
- 雅女赵若辰 即将登台《非常6+1》
- 我省今年高考考试科目仍按“3+X”设置
- Swifties for Kamala raises over $100,000 in donations for Harris campaign
- 雅女赵若辰 即将登台《非常6+1》
- 我省今年高考考试科目仍按“3+X”设置
- Second U.S. city passes ban on facial recognition tech
- 搜索
-
- 友情链接
-