North Korea sends foreign minister to Russia as its troops train to fight against Ukraine | AP News
Ties between North Korea and Russia are continuing to grow deeper as reports of thousands of North Korean troops are being deployed to help on Russia’s side of the war. South Korean intelligence and leaders are exploring the possibility of a trade between Russia and North Korea, as Russia may send technology in return for troops. The idea of North Korea gaining Russian technology worries the US and South Korea as their nuclear weapon and missile program could continue to become a significant threat to the region and other powers. South Korean president, Yoon Suk Yeol, has proposed supplying Ukraine with weapons and other countermeasures as the cooperation continues. South Korea has only ever provided aid to Ukraine due to their policy of not providing arms to countries in conflict, but if military participation of North Korea and Russia continue to strengthen, they may step in.
I find this article significant because the growing partnership between the two countries could change the security landscape in the region. North Korea’s military support can obviously propose a threat Ukraine’s side of the war, but also to surrounding countries and NATO if the war continues past Ukraine with their help. Also, the possibility of North Korea gaining new technology from Russia could change Western and other European efforts to contain North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and Russia’s influence. I also find it significant that South Korea has continuously denied sending arms to Ukraine and only supplied aid, yet now they feel the threat is strong enough to go against their policy and possibly send lethal support.
I think that it’s important that South Korea and the US continues to keep up their intelligence and surveillance efforts, and communicate with NATO, the UN, and EU about the security risks this alliance will cause. The continuation of aid and the possibility of arms support should further be explored if the threat continues to grow. Ukraine should use this as leverage and continue to demand international support, specifically specially from Western powers.
Russia and North Korea are both revisionist states and working to grow their power to move up the international system. Russia is attempting to achieve dominance, replace the current global powers, and become one main hegemonic state. I can connect their actions to offensive realism as Russia is maximizing its power and attempting to take territory to grow its global influence. Thier alliance can also be connected to offensive realism and Russia is using North Korea as an expansion tool, and North Korea is using the alliance for technological and nuclear growth.