Putin’s recent first visit to North Korea in 24 years indicates that Russia is continuing on the path of confrontation. The Russian dictator flew to the North Korean satrap to discuss weapons and ammunition trade as well as to strengthen the global alliance of autocratic leaders aimed at challenging the international order.
When landing in North Korea in North Korea, you may be surprised to see rice fields, small villages, and only a few cars on the streets from the airplane. It is a reporter’s description of the first impression of North Korea, as appeared on the Vedomosti website. In the Russian media, North Korea is often portrayed as an exotic and mysterious land, almost like it belongs to a different civilization. These descriptions clearly indicate that the Russians view communist Korea as a country that has been delayed in development. When Putin arrived in Pyongyang on his long-range wide-body airliner, the Ilyushin 96 was one of the few planes that landed in the North Korean capital. Typically, only three planes land there daily: two from Russia and one from China.
The official part of Putin’s visit began with a parade in Pyongyang to honor the Russian guest. Kim Jong Un welcomed Putin with great fanfare. Russian propaganda showcased the grand hospitality, minimizing the impression that the Kremlin despot visited a poor, closed to the outside world and small country to make numerous requests. At first glance, this may not seem very comfortable for the Russian leader. However, the Kremlin authorities have long surpassed the threshold of humiliation. Today, Putin is willing to seek support even in countries that Moscow has previously looked down upon, all in the name of confronting the West and achieving success in the war.
Missiles, ammunition, and cryptocurrencies
Last September, Kim Jong Un visited Russia and received great honors. Putin took him, among others, to the Vostochny Cosmodrome and the Sukhoi plant in Komsomolsk-on-Amur. After this visit, there were official comments about a significant improvement in relations between Russia and North Korea. People speculated about secret arms and technological cooperation agreements, including transferring Russian missile and satellite technologies to Korea. Additionally, there were discussions about a deal on the supply of North Korean weapons and ammunition to Russia. Following the visit, American and South Korean intelligence reported increased rail and sea traffic between North Korea and Russia. However, ammunition deliveries likely occurred earlier. According to reports from Seoul, almost 7,000 containers of over 3 million rounds of 152 mm and 122 mm ammunition could have reached Russia by February of this year. Indeed, on the Ukrainian front, the Russians began using North Korean ammunition.
North Korea has stored vast reserves of ammunition over the past seven decades. This ammunition, produced and stored on a massive scale, is intended for offensive purposes against South Korea. It is manufactured according to Soviet standards, including 152mm, 122mm, and older tank types of 115mm and 100mm. Additionally, there are millions of rounds of other types of ammunition. All of them are based on Soviet and Chinese technologies, including ex-Soviet technologies from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Therefore, they are compatible with most of the artillery and armor systems currently used by Russia. Additionally, North Korea has a large arsenal of obsolete T-62 and T-54 tanks, which the Russians are beginning to refurbish and deploy in combat. The DPRK (Democratic People’s Republic of Korea) may supply spare parts or even entire tanks and other weapons.
Russian soldiers have already voiced concerns about the inferior quality of Korean ammunition. They report that every third shell fails to explode, posing a danger to artillerymen. The substandard quality is attributed to mass production using expired explosives. Despite these issues, the Russian command values the Korean supplies as they continue their bombardment of Ukraine.
The North Koreans started supplying Russia with their missile systems. At the beginning of the year, the Hwasong-11 (KN-23) ballistic missile hit Kharkov. From the start of the year to February, the Russians used the KN-23 twelve times. It is no longer an obsolete missile from the 1960s but a relatively new North Korean type of engineering, introduced into service a few years ago and based partly on the technology of the Russian Iskander-M missile. What is important for Moscow in using supplies from North Korea is that while maintaining the ability to carry out mass strikes on Ukrainian cities and the front, it reduces their costs. Russian ammunition and missile production are being sent to reserves and warehouses in preparation for a confrontation with NATO. It allows the use of outdated and simpler types of ammo from North Korea against Ukraine, which is a cheaper option. Russia is receiving ammunition in exchange for food sent to North Korea and possibly also for some weapons, satellite technologies, industrial production, and raw materials.
Putin took the new Minister of Defense, Andrei Belousov, with him to Pyongyang, not just as a courtesy. Belousov’s task is to reform the supply system for the Russian army and prepare it for long-term confrontation with Ukraine and NATO. He will also be responsible for integrating the North Korean arms offer into the plans to modernize the Russian armed forces. Due to this deliberated political maneuver, Putin could have discussed topics that were unlikely to be on the official agenda of a meeting with Kim Jong Un. For instance, they could have discussed exchanging experiences in illegal money laundering, hacking activities to bypass sanctions, and stealing technology. Despite being cut off from the outside world and self-isolating without free access to the internet, North Korea has extensive experience in cyber activities. North Korean hackers working for Kim are considered among the most dangerous in the world, with expertise in stealing and trading cryptocurrencies. These experiences are seen as valuable to the Russians. Coordinating these activities between regimes will undoubtedly present another challenge for the world.
Gameplay at the expense of Kim
Putin’s presidential plane took a longer route to Pyongyang, flying only over the territory of Russia and North Korea instead of the shortest route over China. It is not known whether this was due to technical or security reasons. At the same time, this route could be seen as a deliberate gesture towards China. Vladimir Putin’s visit to Kim may not be welcomed in Beijing, as China considers North Korea within its sphere of influence. China is the main sponsor of the Kim regime, both economically and politically. Beijing used North Korea to pressure South Korea, Japan, and the USA, just as it did with North Korea during Kim Jong Un’s father and grandfather’s rule. China mediates to moderate North Korean ambitions. The Kim dynasty, especially Kim Jong Un, is unwilling to become subservient to China, as Lukashenka is to Russia. They do not view themselves as a vassal and reject being under Beijing’s control. From Pyongyang’s viewpoint, a new, powerful ally, Russia, could counterbalance Chinese influence.
Given Moscow’s current desperation and inclination to adopt a more risky and aggressive policy towards the West than China, Beijing might utilize both Putin and Kim in its strategic efforts. The three allies adhere to a similar political model characterized by authoritarian or even totalitarian governance (as it is evident in North Korea’s case). They also share the common goal of diminishing American influence in Europe and Asia and undermining Western nations’ influence and unity.
North Korean-Russian cooperation is growing more potent due to Putin’s visit to Kim, which may cause concern for Asian neighbors, including China, South Korea, Japan, and the USA.
Putin does not feel any shame when he parades with Kim Jong-Un among North Korean children waving Russian flags. He doesn’t feel embarrassed because he and Kim share a similar way of thinking about the world and a desire to disrupt the world order. Perhaps more shocked by the alliance with the Far Eastern satellite state are journalists from the Kremlin media in liberal Moscow.
However, people will have to get accustomed to this new political development. Journalists and the average Russian residents will likely start visiting the most closed country in the world more frequently. The Russian-North Korean tourist agency “Intur East” has already been established. They claim that 400 Russians have already traveled to Kim’s country. Soon, you can expect to see content contentpraising Kim’s regime in Russian propaganda media. After all, the country is known for its exemplary order, and its neighbors are apprehensive of it.
Michał Kacewicz/belsat.eu
Translated by PEV
