Upon announcing Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to North Korea between June 18-19, Japanese media outlets have raised alarm, anticipating a deepening of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
The Yomiuri Shimbun highlighted in an article on June 17 that Putin’s visit is his first in 24 years since 2000, suggesting, “Russia, which continues to invade Ukraine, seems to have a purpose of deepening ties with North Korea in terms of military.” Yomiuri Shimbun also mentioned the possibility of a comprehensive strategic partnership agreement between the two leaders, predicting that cooperation between the two countries could deepen not only in the military but also in the economic aspect.
Asahi Shimbun explained that relations between the two countries date back to the era of North Korea’s founding leader, Kim Il Sung. The former Soviet Union supported North Korea’s founding in 1948 because it was important to establish a friendly country in the border area.
The media pointed to “Russia’s international isolation due to its continued military invasion of Ukraine” as the background for Russia’s close ties with North Korea. North Korea is a country that fully supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In September 2023, Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a summit for the first time in about four and a half years. Asahi Shimbun reported that Russia is strengthening its relationship with North Korea, focusing on military areas such as procuring weapons from North Korea.
Sankei Shimbun predicted that the two leaders would show their bond through this meeting and take a stance against Western countries opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) viewed Putin’s visit to North Korea as a means of avoiding diplomatic isolation and strengthening military cooperation as Western sanctions intensified due to the protraction of the invasion of Ukraine.
Nikkei anticipated North Korea would receive technical support for satellites in return for providing weapons, and the mutual dependence between the two countries would strengthen.
Nikkei also analyzed Russia’s approach to North Korea as an opportunity to break through its isolation in the international community. In April, Russia vetoed the activities of the UN Security Council’s North Korea Sanctions Committee’s Panel of Experts, creating a hole in the international sanctions network.
However, Nikkei warned, “North Korea may worry about being abandoned once the Ukrainian war ends and Russia no longer needs to procure missiles from North Korea,” and speculated, “There are guesses that they are trying to establish a solid relationship before the war ends by revising a treaty close to a military alliance.”
The media pointed out, “If North Korea provides weapons to Russia, there is a concern that the Ukrainian war will be prolonged,” warning, “If Russia, a military superpower, strengthens its technical contribution to North Korea, the performance of North Korea’s reconnaissance satellites, ballistic missiles, submarines, aircraft, and other weapons could improve, posing a threat to Japan’s security.”