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First Post
3 days ago
- Business
- First Post
North Korea. Russia deepen alliance; Apples, ammunition & manpower cross the border
While Russia may gain labour and weapons, the benefits to North Korea are not purely economic, as access to Russian funding and technology would likely accelerate the North's weapons programme read more North Korean apples have begun to appear on supermarket shelves in Russia as growing commercial and military ties between Moscow and Pyongyang take on new significance. One year after Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un signed a strategic partnership at a ceremony in Pyongyang, the two authoritarian states are rapidly expanding co-operation that goes well beyond the battlefield in Ukraine. Trade and business links have proliferated over the past twelve months. North Korean fishing vessels have surged into waters off Russia's far east coast, and companies from the reclusive regime are registering trademarks for products as varied as jam, beer, accordions and sausages. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD North Korea's presence is growing in the Russian marketplace, and a raft of new infrastructure projects and workforce deployments suggests the partnership is being built to endure. A $100mn bridge is under construction over the Tumen river to improve cross-border road access. A dormant 10,000km rail link between Moscow and Pyongyang may also be revived. Russian theatre groups have performed in the North Korean capital, while athletes and university officials have travelled between the two countries in growing numbers. Last week, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov met Kim on his yacht near the beach resort of Wonsan. Kim pledged 'unconditionally support' for Russia's aims in Ukraine. Lavrov responded by saying Russia 'respects and understands' North Korea's pursuit of a nuclear weapons programme. Financial Times quoted Andrei Lankov, a North Korea expert at Kookmin University in Seoul, as saying that the two sides have become more open about their collaboration. 'Having previously downplayed the extent of their military co-operation, the two countries now want the world to know that their relationship is being built to last.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Soldiers for roubles As well as economic integration, the most significant support from Pyongyang to Moscow has come in the form of weapons and soldiers. South Korean intelligence reported that since October, North Korea has sent 12 million artillery shells to Russia and deployed an estimated 13,000 troops to the Kursk region. The deployments are thought to have suffered heavy losses, but Russian officials have publicly praised the contribution. Sergei Shoigu, head of Russia's Security Council, lauded the North Koreans for defending Russia 'as if it was their own motherland'. Shoigu has since announced that a further 6,000 North Koreans will be sent to Russia, including 5,000 military construction workers. Lankov believes this could be a 'trial run' to assess North Korea's potential to meet Russia's labour needs and allow more domestic troops to be redirected to the war in Ukraine. Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute, said the cash and in-kind payments from Moscow could significantly revive North Korea's stagnating mining and agricultural sectors. 'Even modest investments in rural infrastructure could bring real benefits for swaths of the North Korean population,' he said. But Ward added a note of caution. 'While some of it will be spent on improving conditions for some of its own people, in reality a lot of it is likely to be wasted on prestige projects like skyscrapers in Pyongyang and other privileges for the elite.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Growing mutual leverage While Russia may gain labour and weapons, the benefits to North Korea are not purely economic. Victor Cha, Korea chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said that access to Russian funding and technology would likely accelerate the North's weapons programme. Ward noted that even after the war in Ukraine ends, the alliance would give both countries 'greater capacity to resist western diplomatic pressure'. Trump-era diplomacy may be ill-suited to this new alignment. In March, Donald Trump signalled a desire to re-engage with Kim, calling North Korea a 'big nuclear nation' and the North Korean leader a 'very smart guy'. But Cha believes the calculus has changed. 'Trump should not imagine that his bonhomie will somehow sour Kim on a lucrative relationship with Russia, or convince the North Korean leader to cede the tremendous leverage he now enjoys."
Boston Globe
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Russia-Ukraine war comes home to North Korea
It is also part of an effort to ensure the pact, which has made North Korea useful to a world power for the first time in decades, endures, analysts say. Advertisement 'Once the decision was made [to send troops to help Russia], he has been very consistent' in his messaging, said Fyodor Tertitskiy, an expert on North Korea's history and military at Seoul's Kookmin University. 'They are trying to show all possible optics in hopes that Russia won't abandon them once the war is over.' Kim has become one of Putin's staunchest supporters since the start of the war in Ukraine more than three years ago, which left the Russian leader clamoring for troops and munitions, and the North Korean in the unusual position of having assets that someone else wanted. Kim dispatched some 12,000 troops to fight in Russia's western region of Kursk last year, and thousands of them died, according to US, Ukrainian, and South Korean officials. This helped Moscow retake the region, and Russia has thanked North Korea for helping 'in the operation to liberate' Kursk. Advertisement North Koreans were highly motivated on the battlefield and tended to fight to the death or kill themselves with grenades rather than be captured, according to Ukrainian soldiers. Kim may be preparing to send thousands more within the next two months, the South Korean intelligence agency said last week. The decision to send North Korean soldiers to fight for Moscow was an unusual move for a country perennially preparing for invasion from its enemies. North Korea is also believed to have sent large amounts of munitions, including artillery shells, to Russia. North Korea held a commemoration in Pyongyang on Sunday, the anniversary of Putin's summit with Kim in North Korea's capital, where the two leaders signed a landmark strategic and military treaty. As Russians and North Koreans performed onstage to orchestral music, a giant screen displayed images and videos relating to North Korea's dispatch of troops to Russia, and Kim was pictured with about a half-dozen coffins with the North Korean flag draped over them. A somber Kim hunched over in front of one coffin and placed both hands on it, appearing to pay tribute to the repatriated remains of the soldiers who were sent to Russia, according to footage aired on Korean Central Television. The state media footage also showed Russian officials at the event crying and wiping their eyes. The performances celebrated the 'militant ties of friendship and the genuine internationalist obligation between the peoples and armies of the two countries that were forged at the cost of blood,' state media outlet Korean Central News Agency said. Advertisement The report, using the abbreviation for North Korea's official name, claimed the 'annals of the DPRK-Russia friendship will last forever along with the history of victory.' A Russian delegation led by Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova and the staff of the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang attended, along with senior party and government officials, KCNA reported. South Korea's intelligence agency said Kim appears to have sent additional troops to Russia earlier this year. South Korean lawmakers briefed by the spy agency said those additional troops may total about 4,000 soldiers. Top Russian security official Sergei Shoigu made two visits to Pyongyang last month, which were made on 'special instructions' from Putin, according to Russian state-run news agencies. Russian media reported after Shoigu's trips that Pyongyang plans to send about 5,000 military construction workers and 1,000 land mine removal workers to Kursk. Those 6,000 workers could leave as early as this month, the spy agency told lawmakers last week. North Korea has already begun recruiting soldiers to be sent to Russia, the lawmakers said, citing the intelligence service. Kim has hailed the 'excellent soldiers' for their 'heroic feats' in the Kursk region, saying in April the men 'who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honor of the motherland.' Kim also vowed to establish a monument in Pyongyang in their honor.
Korea Herald
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
Yoon visits hospitalized wife daily, aide says
Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has been visiting Seoul Asan Medical Center almost daily to care for his wife, Kim Keon Hee, a close aide told local media Wednesday. According to lawyer Seo Jung-wook, Kim's condition has deteriorated since she was hospitalized on June 16 for depression and difficulty breathing. Her stay was initially expected to last about a week, but has been extended due to worsening health. Kim is at the center of a special counsel probe into 16 alleged corruption and influence-peddling allegations tied to her time as first lady. These include suspected stock manipulation, bribery involving corporate sponsorships of her exhibitions, illegal campaign financing, and meddling in government appointments. Despite her hospitalization, Seo said Kim will 'appear at the prosecutor's office when summoned,' ruling out the possibility of investigators questioning her in the hospital. Former President Yoon, too, is also facing investigations over his failed martial law attempt in December 2024. Special prosecutors filed for an arrest warrant for him Tuesday. The former president had defied multiple summons from police since March. His legal team claims this was partly due to his wife's condition and partly because the case had not yet been officially transferred to the special counsel. Separately, two universities recently revoked Kim's academic degrees after confirming plagiarism in her theses. Sookmyung Women's University found over 48 percent of her master's thesis copied and canceled the degree. Kookmin University then rescinded her doctorate, which had depended on the former. Seo criticized the timing, saying such actions 'would have been brave under Yoon's presidency,' but now appear politically motivated.
Time of India
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
North Korea's 'accidental defectors' stuck south of border
Two who "accidentally defected" to South Korea have now spent more time in limbo than any other reluctant defectors in the history of the two nations. The two men were picked up by a South Korean naval patrol on March 7 in the Yellow Sea. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Apparently, wind and strong currents pushed their fishing boat over the Northern Limit Line (NLL) close to Eocheong Island, off the west coast of the peninsula. There are no indications that the two men were intending to defect, and they have both repeatedly expressed their desire to return to North Korea during questioning by South Korean military and intelligence agencies. Their stay in South Korea is now well into its third month, longer than any other loyal North Koreans who had requested repatriation. Dozens of others before them have found it relatively straightforward to make the return journey. This time, however, North Korea has refused to pick up the phone. "North Korea has decided, and stated that it wants to have absolutely no communications with the South, no matter what," said Andrei Lankov, a professor of history and international relations at Seoul's Kookmin University. Men stuck 'until relations with the North improve' The North is "very obviously showing its displeasure" with Seoul and the administration of the now impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who led more of a hard-line policy on Pyongyang, Lankov told DW. "For now, these men appear to be stuck in South Korea until relations with the North improve, although it is of course possible that they will eventually change their minds and decide they no longer want to go back," he said. "Even if they do still want to return, it seems likely that might take a long time." In October, the state-run Korea Central News Agency confirmed in a report that changes to the North's constitution that were proposed earlier in the year had gone into effect and that South Korea is now officially designated as a "hostile state." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Under Pyongyang's new attitude to its neighbor, roads across the border have been dug up and blocked with anti-tank obstacles, railway lines have been removed and the frontier is "permanently" sealed. Pyongyang is no longer interested in reunification and the South is its "principal enemy," KCNA reported. North goes fully silent As a consequence, North Korean personnel at the where the two sides have faced off since the armistice was signed to conclude the 1950-'53 are no longer responding when the South calls the cross-border hotline. "The relationship was in a bad state before, but now the North has just stopped communicating completely," said Ahn Yinhay, a professor of international relations at Korea University in Seoul. "Things became worse after Yoon became president, in part because he reached agreements with the US and Japan for a three-way security alliance in the region," she said. "And since then, they are not picking up the phone at the border and there is no other way to reach them." Ahn said the two fishermen appear to be loyal North Korean subjects, although she questioned whether their repeated desire to return to the North is in part out of concern for the well-being of their families. The regime in Pyongyang has traditionally treated relatives of people who flee the nation harshly, including putting them in labor or political reeducation camps. Quoting sources in the North, dissident media has reported that those punishments have become even more harsh recently. "They will be aware that the North will be monitoring news reports in the South and I expect they are sticking to their position that they wish to be repatriated to protect their families," Ahn said. South happy to see fishermen return home The two men will inevitably have been exposed to the bright lights and relative opulence of life in South Korea, Lankov said, noting that they would be wise to guard their tongues if they do eventually return to their homeland. "Unless they are suicidal, they are not going to be excessively talkative about what they have seen," he said. Lankov also believes South Korea would be more than happy for anyone who is not committed to a life in the South to return to the North. In practical terms, supporting defectors is an expensive and extended commitment, with new arrivals from the North requiring health care, education to be able to work in the capitalist South and support with housing and integration into society. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for the repatriation of the two men will come after June 3, when South Korea goes to the polls to elect its new president. At present, the Liberal Party candidate, , is the strong favorite to emerge victorious and is widely expected to try to build bridges with the North. "Lee may be willing to provide aid to the North with no strings attached and that may change the North's stance on communications, which would allow these men to go home," he said.
DW
16-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
North Korea's 'accidental defectors' stuck south of border – DW – 05/16/2025
Two North Korean fishermen insist they want to return home after their boat was washed south of the maritime boundary months ago. But Pyongyang is not picking up the phone. Two North Korean fishermen who "accidentally defected" to South Korea have now spent more time in limbo than any other reluctant defectors in the history of the two nations. The two men were picked up by a South Korean naval patrol on March 7 in the Yellow Sea. Apparently, wind and strong currents pushed their fishing boat over the Northern Limit Line (NLL) close to Eocheong Island, off the west coast of the peninsula. There are no indications that the two men were intending to defect and they have both repeatedly expressed their desire to return to North Korea during questioning by South Korean military and intelligence agencies. Their stay in South Korea is now well into its third month, longer than any other loyal North Koreans who had requested repatriation. Dozens of others before them have found it relatively straightforward to make the return journey. This time, however, North Korea is refusing to pick up the phone. S. Korean bombs hit near N. Korea border in military drill To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "North Korea has decided — and stated — that it wants to have absolutely no communications with the South, no matter what," said Andrei Lankov, a professor of history and international relations at Seoul's Kookmin University. Men stuck 'until relations with the North improve' The North is "very obviously showing its displeasure" with Seoul and the administration of the now impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, a conservative who led more of a hardline policy on Pyongyang, Lankov told DW. "For now, these men appear to be stuck in South Korea until relations with the North improve, although it is of course possible that they will eventually change their minds and decide they no longer want to go back," he said. "Even if they do still want to return, it seems likely that might take a long time." In October, the state-run Korea Central News Agency confirmed in a report that changes to the North's constitution that were proposed earlier in the year had gone into effect and that South Korea is now officially designated as a "hostile state." Under Pyongyang's new attitude to its neighbor, roads across the border have been dug up and blocked with anti-tank obstacles, railway lines have been removed and the frontier is "permanently" sealed. Pyongyang is no longer interested in reunification and the South is its "principal enemy," KCNA reported. North goes fully silent As a consequence, North Korean personnel at the Panmunjom border post where the two sides have faced off since the armistice was signed to conclude the 1950-'53 Korean War are no longer responding when the South calls the cross-border hotline. "The relationship was in a bad state before, but now the North has just stopped communicating completely," said Ahn Yinhay, a professor of international relations at Korea University in Seoul. "Things became worse after Yoon became president, in part because he reached agreements with the US and Japan for a three-way security alliance in the region," she said. "And since then, they are not picking up the phone at the border and there is no other way to reach them." Ahn says the two fishermen appear to be loyal North Korean subjects, although she questions whether their repeated desire to return to the North is in part out of concern for the well-being of their families. The regime in Pyongyang has traditionally treated relatives of people who flee the nation harshly, including putting them in labor or political re-education camps. Quoting sources in the North, dissident media has reported that those punishments have become even more harsh recently. "They will be aware that the North will be monitoring news reports in the South and I expect they are sticking to their position that they wish to be repatriated to protect their families," Ahn said. South happy to see fishermen return home The two men will inevitably have been exposed to the bright lights and relative opulence of life in South Korea, Lankov says, noting that they would be wise to guard their tongues if they do eventually return to their homeland. "Unless they are suicidal, they are not going to be excessively talkative about what they have seen," he said. North Korean defector: 'We are not traitors' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Lankov also believes that South Korea would be more than happy for anyone who is not committed to a life in the South to return to the North. In practical terms, supporting defectors is an expensive and extended commitment, with new arrivals from the North requiring health care, education to be able to work in the capitalist South and support with housing and integration into society. Perhaps the greatest opportunity for the repatriation of the two men will come after June 3, when South Korea goes to the polls to elect its new president. At present, the Liberal Party candidate, Lee Jae-myung, is the strong favorite to emerge victorious and is widely expected to try to build bridges with the North. "Lee may be willing to provide aid to the North with no strings attached and that may change the North's stance on communications, which would allow these men to go home," he said. Edited by: Darko Janjevic
