On January 14 this year, North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son Hui visited Russia for talks. This was followed by a visit from the North Korean Agricultural Technology Delegation on February 9. On February 12, the WPK’s delegation attended “The Forum of Supporters of the Struggle Against Modern Neocolonialism” upon the invitation of the ruling party in Russia. In addition, delegations from North Korea’s Ministry of Information Industry, Ministry of Fisheries, and Ministry of Sports have visited Russia, continuing exchanges across diverse sectors.
The reason? The “2023 North Korea-Russia Summit”
The recent advancements in relations between North Korea and Russia can be traced back to the “2023 North Korea-Russia Summit” on September 13 last year. However, as they have not disclosed whether any agreements were reached at the summit, held for the first time in four years, there are various speculations surrounding its outcomes.
Although no official statements have been released, it’s noteworthy that the North Korean delegation sent to the summit included high-ranking officials such as Park Tae Sung, in charge of space exploration, responsible for national space development, Oh Soo Yong, director of the Economic Affairs Department, and Park Hoon, the Deputy Prime Minister, in charge of construction. This suggests a wide-ranging agreement between North Korea and Russia, covering diplomacy, military cooperation, economy, and technology. The visit of Russian tourists to North Korea is part of the agreement made based on the September summit. There’s also speculation that Russia has promised to cooperate in the technological field in return for receiving military supplies from North Korea.
What will be the outcome of this war-like love affair?
The outcome of the burgeoning relationship between North Korea and Russia remains uncertain, prompting caution from many countries. Especially considering Russia’s past attitude towards North Korea, it’s unclear if this newfound rapport will persist. The unresolved conflicts, such as the Ukraine issue and the North Korean nuclear ambitions, are significantly affecting the relationships not only between North Korea and Russia but also with other surrounding countries. Amidst this constantly changing international order, there is one thing we must uphold. That is to prioritize diplomacy grounded in mutual understanding and trust while making pragmatic decisions aligned with national interests. Especially as we enter a new Cold War situation, the need for careful responses to North Korea and Russia remains the same regardless of how the relationship between North Korea and Russia changes.
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