Russia and China’s Geopolitical Project with North Korea: A Shift in Alliances

Russia and China’s Geopolitical Project with the West

Over the past decade, Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia and Xi Jinping’s China have found common ground with the United States in their efforts to dismantle or contain North Korea’s nuclear arsenal. This shared goal served as a unifying factor amidst their deepening confrontation with the West.

Shift in Alliances Amidst the Ukraine Conflict

However, the outbreak of the war in Ukraine two years ago marked a significant turning point. Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Pyongyang and the announcement of a pact for mutual assistance in the event of aggression highlighted a clear divergence in priorities. The visit underscored the fading efforts of the three major nuclear powers to curb North Korea’s nuclear proliferation.

Russia’s Support for North Korea’s Nuclear Ambitions

During his visit, Putin not only abandoned the pursuit of nuclear restraint but also offered technological assistance to North Korea. This support, if it includes crucial technologies sought by Kim Jong-un, could potentially enhance North Korea’s nuclear capabilities and pose a threat to its adversaries, particularly the United States.

With no mention of North Korea relinquishing any of its estimated 50 or 60 nuclear weapons, the agreement between Putin and Kim signals a significant shift in geopolitical dynamics. Putin’s statement affirming Pyongyang’s right to strengthen its defense capability suggests a departure from previous efforts to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula.