Kim Jong-un is well aware of all the consequences: as evidenced by North Korea's latest actions

The DPRK army began shelling South Korean positions after Kim Jong-un's recent loud statements about readiness for war and the use of nuclear weapons. However, this bravado may not end in Pyongyang's favor due to the situation in China.

About this Channel 24 said international security expert Taras Zhovtenko. He suggested that with its aggressive actions, the DPRK is trying to prevent forceful pressure on itself at a time when China may refuse to protect it.

To what extent DPRK threats are dangerous

Observers emphasize that the connection between Beijing and Pyongyang is still strong. Therefore, many of Kim Jong-un's words can be said in the interests of China. However, after preliminary reports from American intelligence that the DPRK did provide Russia with its ballistic missiles, the situation may change radically.

“Sharp movements of Pyongyang (on the border with South Korea – Channel 24) can indirectly confirm that the DPRK did transfer ballistic missiles to Russia, and the North Korean leadership is well aware of the consequences, because this was one of the most serious red lines that Pyongyang crossed,” Zhovtenko noted.

Of course, the West's first intuitive response to these actions could be sanctions. But in fact, due to the large number of sanctions already imposed on North Korea, this tool is gradually being exhausted. Accordingly, the West has two options to respond: to put pressure on China or to put pressure on the DPRK by force.

It is obvious that the North Korean leadership is afraid of this. All this bravado about nuclear weapons is just a manifestation of fear: Kim Jong-un is well aware that in the event of a military confrontation, North Korea is unlikely to withstand this blow, although there will be a lot of casualties on both sides, the security expert suggested.

At the same time, it is unlikely that in such a scenario Xi Jinping would stand up for Kim Jong-un. Moreover, the leader of China, against the backdrop of corruption scandals in the army, has an excellent argument for this. They say that our missiles are “filled with water,” and therefore we cannot fight.

Therefore, the DPRK is trying to threaten the use of nuclear weapons in order to prevent a scenario of forceful pressure on itself. And Pyongyang is unlikely to dare to take new steps for additional escalation.

North Korea is helping Russia: what is known about this

• In the fall of 2023, Vladimir Putin met Kim Jong-un with great fanfare near Vladivostok. In addition, Sergei Lavrov and Sergei Shoigu also visited Pyongyang.
• As a result of these agreements, the DPRK provided Russia with military assistance: first with artillery shells, and then, apparently, with ballistic ones missiles.
• As observers suggest, in exchange for supporting Russia's military needs, the DPRK may or would like to receive Russian technology in aviation and intelligence.

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