The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un took the centre point of concern because of the growing security partnership between the two. As per the geopolitical analysts, China did not give any clear stance on the growing partnership between the two, as China is well-calculated about its gain and loss from those ties simultaneously. China would benefit from the arms deal, as China is reluctant to provide any kind of direct military support to Russia.
However, it does not want to see Russia in a defeating position. North Korea, is already largely considered a rogue state and has no implications on its reputation if it further strengthens the military deal with Russia. Moreover, China can avoid further hostility with the West, especially with the European countries if North Korea provides the military arsenals to Russia.
Close note for the West
In September this year, the White House signalled that the North Korean leader could conduct a high-level talk with President Putin in the backdrop of growing security convergence between Moscow and Pyongyang. Some experts have indicated that the cooperation may extend beyond conventional arms deals, possibly to collaborate in advancing the ties for technical cooperation in satellites, nuclear-power submarines and even ballistic missiles.
The ties between the two countries can have multidimensional advancement in pursuing the advancement of North Korea’s conventional forces, training to the officials, technological upgradation and so on. In August, there were official announcements to have an exchange of letters pledging to increase bilateral cooperation. The active efforts of the two countries to advance their negotiations, especially during the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflicts can become a matter of close observation for the rest of the world.
Source: BNN Network
Several times, the West has warned Russia to not be involved with North Korea, but they chose to ignore that. The US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas Greenfield has strictly condemned such partnerships with North Korea, as it is a clear breach of the rules under UNSC resolutions on North Korea (resolutions 1874 and 2270).
Twist and turn- China’s great game
Although, China supports North Korea under the curtain, but never willing to take greater responsibility for avoiding the sanctions against North Korea. China has actively participated in the voting, whenever the sanctions came against North Korea. Instead of being directly involved in the allegation of supplying arms and ammunition to North Korea, China finds it more feasible that Russia can supply the sanctioned technology to North Korea, while China enjoys the influence over the US and its allies- as analysed in Diplomat.
Source: Time
However, China would not like to see Moscow very frequently in North Korea, as Beijing always wants to monopolize its influence on its political, economic and military fate. Simultaneously, North Korea is also trying to diversify its patronage beyond Beijing to get more leverage. Strengthening ties with Moscow has re-established this fact once again. However, China will not support this kind of grouping, as that can be a detrimental factor for growing Chinese influence over the region.
The changing nexus of Indo-Pacific
Source: Zero Hedge
A Russia-North Korea axis complicates the security implications for both the Ukraine and the Korean peninsula. Historically, North Korea’s interest in the USSR or Russia was largely because of its favourable policy derivatives. Even some of analysts point out that North Korea can use the cooperation with Moscow to leverage the assistance from China. While Moscow has a large interest in warm water ports of the Korean peninsula, Beijing sees the peninsula as the card to use against the West, whenever required. The growing partnerships between the two authoritarian countries will definitely create a more threatening situation in the Indo-Pacific region.
