The essence of cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow comes down to mutual benefit. North Korea has already sent thousands of its soldiers to Russia to participate in the war with Ukraine, and the DPRK, in turn, hopes to solve its internal problems – financial and food – with Russia’s help.
The Korea Herald writes about this.
The publication reports that former South Korean ambassador to Russia Wi Song Lak claims that such an agreement is beneficial for the DPRK. According to him, thanks to this cooperation, the country’s financial and food crises can be partially overcome. He noted that North Korea produces less than 4 million tons of grain per year, which is not enough to meet the needs of the population.
“According to North Korea, grain production is 4 million tons per year, but this is one million tons less than the volume needed to feed the country. If Russia offers 600,000 to 700,000 tons of rice, this will be enough to satisfy more than 100 people. half of the DPRK’s annual demand,” explained Wi Son Lak.
Arms trade with Russia will also help ease food shortages in North Korea, as Moscow buys artillery shells from Pyongyang. Furthermore, the agreement will allow North Korea to act jointly with Russia on the Korean Peninsula in the event of a crisis situation.
“If a conflict breaks out on the peninsula, North Korea will be able to count on Russia’s help,” Wi Son Lak added.
Experts from South Korea’s Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) also revealed some details of the agreement. They believe that the decision to transfer North Korean troops to Russia before the US presidential election was not accidental.
“Under Trump, the United States could reduce its presence in Ukraine, which would undermine the foundations of the new Cold War-style structure that Pyongyang has been working on in recent years with Moscow,” the INSS report notes.
According to South Korea’s National Intelligence Service, each DPRK soldier will receive around $2,000 a month for participating in the conflict against Ukraine. The department highlights that at least 10,000 North Korean soldiers will be sent to Russia and the total amount of payments will exceed $200 million per year.
In addition, the Russian side provides the DPRK with access to modern space technologies: it is assumed that North Korea intends to launch a new military reconnaissance satellite.
Recall that Kursor wrote that former advisor to the US Secretary of State, Matthew Bryza, expressed doubts about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s plans to turn the BRICS into a military alliance capable of resisting Western influence. Speaking on Espresso, Bryza called these ambitions “unpromising” and emphasized that most BRICS member countries are not interested in a military alliance and see the organization rather as a platform for economic cooperation.
