Russia and North Korea have grown significantly closer since Vladimir Putin launched his assault on Ukraine in February 2022. The two countries notably concluded a mutual defense agreement during the president's June visit. Russian in Pyongyang. After the deputies last week, the Council of the Russian Federation must vote on the ratification of this strategic agreement between the two countries on November 6.
During a meeting in Moscow this Friday between the North Korean Minister of Foreign Affairs and her counterpart Sergei Lavrov, North Korea announced that it wanted to strengthen its nuclear arsenal while Pyongyang is suspected of requesting Russian technologies in exchange for its military support for the Russian army in the conflict in Ukraine.
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Kim Jung-un, during a test of a new ballistic missile, already on Thursday, had clearly indicated that the current situation forced the country “to strengthen more than ever to strengthen our modern offensive strategic nuclear weapons, as well as to improve our nuclear response capacity,” he declared. “I once again affirm that our country will in no way change the course of strengthening its nuclear arsenal,” reaffirmed, according to a Russian translation, North Korean Minister Choe Son Hui. She further accused the United States and South Korea of developing an “alliance with a nuclear component”, judging that the “situation could become explosive at any time on the Korean peninsula”.
North Korea reaffirms its support for Russia in Ukraine
North Korea has been suspected for many months of supplying Russia with large quantities of shells as well as missiles. Now it would also provide thousands of troops to fight in the conflict with Ukraine. Moscow and Pyongyang have neither confirmed nor denied the arrival of these troops, which according to the West are about to be deployed on the battlefield. Citing American intelligence services, the head of diplomacy Antony Blinken indicated Thursday that of the 10,000 North Korean soldiers who, according to Washington, entered Russia, up to 8,000 “were deployed in the Kursk region” . “We have not yet seen these (North Korean) troops deploy in combat against Ukrainian forces, but we expect that to happen in the coming days,” Blinken added.
VideoSatellite images reportedly show deployment of North Korean soldiers in Russia
Pyongyang is also suspected by the West of asking in exchange for this support for technologies that will help it strengthen its nuclear arsenal, in particular its ballistic missiles.
North Korea will stand with Russia until “its victory” in Ukraine, the North Korean foreign minister said. “There is no doubt that under the wise leadership of the distinguished Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian army and people will achieve a great victory. We reaffirm that we will always stand firmly alongside our Russian comrades until Victory Day,” she said, according to a Russian translation of her remarks. For his part, Sergei Lavrov welcomed “the very close contacts established between the military and the security services of the two countries. This helps resolve important issues for the safety of our citizens and yours. »
And then, it is probably not the result of chance, this meeting comes a few days before the American presidential election at a time when North Korea is raising tensions with its neighbor to the South.
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China officially out of the game
China has said the rapprochement between Pyongyang and Moscow does not concern it. “North Korea and Russia are two independent states. How they develop their relations concerns them,” said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, adding that Chinese authorities “do not know the specific situation of bilateral exchanges and cooperation between North Korea. and Russia.
Even if this argument is difficult to believe, China officially maintains a rather neutral attitude. “China hopes that the various parties will promote calming of the situation and work towards a political solution to the Ukrainian crisis,” Lin Jian reiterated.
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