Description: Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov met with North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un in Wonsan, as they announced even deeper strategic ties between their respective countries. Kim Jong Un emphasized his country’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine and stated that North Korea would continue to support and supply Russia with all the necessary means to end the war in Ukraine. Lavrov, addressing the public highlighted Russia’s support for North Korea’s nuclear program and reaffirmed the continued support from his country in North Korea’s development of significant deterrent capabilities. Lavrov’s visit to North Korea came intermittently after the US, South Korea and Japan conducted joint military drills in international waters where the American B -52 Stratofortress strategic bomber was featured, and amid the US announcement of continued supply of weapons to Ukraine. North Korea’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine has so far been in thousands of soldiers and large bulks of ammunition supplies frequently delivered to the frontlines. The countries signed a mutual defense pact last year during Putin’s visit to North Korea.
Impact: Russia’s support for North Korea’s nuclear development efforts significantly impacts the global and especially the regional power dynamics. The deepening and strengthening of bilateral ties continues to represent a significant threat for the region where US military presence is the only deterrent against the North Korean nuclear threat. Russia is also largely benefiting from the strategic partnership, with North Korea’s continuous munitions and personnel support, fueling the intensification of the war in Ukraine even further. The strategic partnership would continue to develop, encompassing larger dimensions of bilateral cooperation between two countries that are managing to circumvent the mounting sanctions imposed by the Global West. Russia’s continuous support for North Korea’s autonomous regional ambitions in the Indo – Pacific would most certainly prompt increased rearmament between the US and its regional allies.