Doesn’t see danger: can China resolve the situation with cooperation between Russia and the DPRK

There has long been cooperation between the DPRK and Russia is not a secret. Countries sign agreements in the fields of economics, science and technology. Pyongyang supplies weapons to Moscow for the war against Ukraine in exchange for oil products and more.

The introduction of additional sanctions is unlikely to affect cooperation in defense- industrial sphere. Perhaps the only option left is China. Political scientist Andrei Vigirinsky on Channel 24 suggested whether Beijing can resolve the situation.

What is the DPRK

Many experts say that the regime in North Korea has a good group of international diplomats who know how to work in the field of foreign policy.

North Korean citizens can come to Chinese territory to earn money, and then return to continue business. That is, Beijing has influence on North Korea, but not absolute – a lightning-fast upside-down revolution will not happen.

The DPRK, understanding the consequences of complete dependence on one partner, will always tries to balance and find compromises. Even about 10 years ago, she began to implement liberal reforms, they were successful, but the regime very quickly curtailed them due to their uselessness for the state.

North Korea understands how to work with China so that it does not lose interest in them. At the same time, he knows how to conduct an independent policy,” said the political scientist.

Can China regulate relations between the DPRK and Russia< /h2>

According to Vigirinsky, myths have developed in the Ukrainian information space about conspiracy theories about arms supplies from North Korea to Russia – that China, through the DPRK, is helping the Kremlin so that they have no claims against it.

However, Pyongyang has its own military-industrial complex, tuned precisely to those types of weapons that are effective on the battlefield – 152 mm caliber shells. Accordingly, China will not influence what is not of critical danger.

Moreover, when Beijing realizes that there may be a confrontation in the Asia-Pacific region with the United States. Washington relies on Australia, the Philippines, South Korea and the UK here. These countries create a “threat belt” for China.

Here North Korea does not interfere with China in any way. On the contrary, she is ideologically close, she can be used as an ally. Xi and Putin signed an agreement that Russia will help protect China's territorial interests and sovereignty in the South China Sea. Apart from indignation, there are no more tools,” said Andrei Vigirinsky.

It will also not be possible to impose sanctions: the Russian military-industrial complex already has restrictions, North Korea has long been under a total blockade, and at the same time China can symmetrically answer. Also, several countries can unite in common interests and scientific developments, then sanctions will not affect them either.

Cooperation between Russia and the DPRK: what is known

• NBC News writes that Russia and North Korea may be preparing a large-scale military provocation. It could happen as early as October 2024, shortly before the start of the United States presidential election.
• Russia receives artillery shells from the DPRK that were manufactured 50 years ago. They are either unusable or need careful testing. North Korea, in exchange, is asking for missile and submarine technologies in order to develop its own defense industry.
• The United States stated that Russia has purchased more than 11 thousand containers from the DPRK since December 2023 with ammunition and sent at least 7,000 containers filled with more than a million shells and Grad missiles.
• Officially recorded more than a dozen similar cases when the DPRK provided weapons to Russia.