Putin’s Historic Visit to North Korea: A Diplomatic Milestone
North Korea Supreme Leader and Putin| News and Media| Updated June 21 2024
Putin made history with his recent visit to North Korea, marking a significant milestone in diplomatic relations between the two nations. The visit, shrouded in secrecy and anticipation, captivated the world’s attention as Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un engaged in discussions aimed at fostering cooperation and stability in the region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin met the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on his two days visit to the country. It was an effort to show up support especially military help and aid to North Korea who has been Russia’s strongest support in its war against Ukraine. It is Putin’s first visit to North Korea since 2000. Putin’s visit north Korea after 24 years as both Moscow and Pyongyang are attempting to jointly build an anti- US front which the Russian president called a global neo Colonial dictatorship relying on double standards.
The developing partnership between Russia and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea or North Korea has alarmed the West especially given the latter’s continued nuclear weapons program that poses a threat to its neighbor South Korea.
On Wednesday the two leaders signed a new treaty with a mutual defense Clause called the treaty on a comprehensive strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and exchange the final agreements with one another. According to Tas a Russian state-owned news agency the new document is needed because of the profound changes in the geopolitical situation across the globe and within the region specifically.
In February this year at a United Nations security council meeting the United States of America had accused Russia of using DPRK supplied ballistic missiles at least nine times in Ukraine a charge both Nations deny. North Korea’s latest set of short- range ballistic missile systems or SRBM named the Hwasong 11 first tested in 2019 and designated as k23 and K24 by the US has been used by Russia in the city of Kyiv earlier this year, according to United Nation sanctions monitors. In October 2023 a few weeks after Kim’s visit to Russia the US said that North Korea had sent nearly 1,000 containers of arms to Russia. By March 2024 the number had increased to 7,000 containers of arms sent from pyongyang to Moscow. South Korean officials in November 2023 said that North Korean arms exports to Russia include rifles, rocket launchers, mortars in addition to SRBM anti-tank missiles and portable anti-air missiles. Putin and Kim are the leaders of two countries which face some of the toughest sanctions from the Western powers and the case of Russia and the United Nations and the case of North Korea. Putin has also built a personal relationship with Kim Jong-un in February of this year the Russian president gifted Kim Russian luxury armored limousine it was reported that Kim used the same vehicle to pick the Russian president up from the airport on Tuesday evening .Putin has gifted Kim a second such limousine during his current visit to Pyongyang. Russia has faced tough sanctions including from the Global Financial system and suffered loss of $300 billion since it began its special military operation against Ukraine in 2022. The US and its allies accused China and North Korea of aiding Russia to prop up its war against Ukraine as Moscow faces material shortages due to the Western sanctions in place against it. For Russia North Korean military support is pivotal for its operations in Ukraine.
Due to the sanctions regime over the years the DPRK has been unable to upgrade their weapon systems with the latest available technology. However since 2016 the country has been pursuing the development of more sophisticated missile systems with progressively longer ranges according to SIPRI.
Earlier this year Russia vetoed the annual renewal of the United Nations sanctions monitors a panel of experts who for the last 15 years have monitored the enforcement of the UN sanctions regime against North Korea the fear amongst Western officials according to reports is the fact that north Korea would in exchange for these arms and munitions’ sent to Russia gain the sophisticated technology required to upgrade its own missile programs as well as access to Russian oil and other armaments.
Since 2006 North Korea has faced a myriad of sanctions implemented by the United Nations security Council after it conducted its first explosive nuclear test everything from Seafood to heavy Weaponry, missile technology, Agricultural and labour exports and oil imports have been restricted by the United Nations security Council over the years. However this has not prevented North Korea from conducting further nuclear weapons tests after its first test in 2006 the country has conducted at least five others once in 2009, once in 2013, twice in 2016 and once in 2017.
Putin’s visit to North Korea has redefined the contours of international diplomacy, signaling a shift towards a more interconnected and inclusive world order. As two nations with intricate histories and divergent paths come together to chart a new course, the possibilities for cooperation and progress appear boundless. The legacy of this historic meeting will endure as a beacon of hope and transformation in a world grappling with complex challenges and uncertainties.