Strategic Convergence Between Russia and North Korea
Possible Response Measures by the South Korean Government
North Korea has strengthened its strategic convergence with Russia by exploiting such issues as increasing US–China and US–Russia tensions, the growth of China–Russia military cooperation, and the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The Russia–North Korea alliance is the result of an alignment between Russian grand strategy and North Korean geopolitical survival strategy. Russia–North Korea ties imply a variety of strategic intentions, such as Russia’s drive to win the war in Ukraine and challenge the US-led international order, North Korea’s strategy for survival, their responses against the South Korea-US alliance and South Korea–US–Japan security cooperation, and the North Korean desire to dismantle the international sanctions regime and increase its military power. Russia and North Korea strengthened their strategic convergence through their Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on June 19, 2024. Through this treaty, Russia–North Korea ties have been evolving into a military alliance.
