On February 24, Russian armed forces unexpectedly entered Ukrainian territory and launched military activities, which they named a “special military operation.” Russia has become gradually lonelier since that date. The government of Moscow sought remedy during the isolation process and made significant progress in relations between a few states. Among these are China and North Korea.
It is seen that all three states indicate the will to act together because of the problems they face in the international community. North Korea, China, and Russia are pushed into a corner by the West, led by the United States. For instance, China has been in both economic and military competition with the USA. On the other hand, North Korea has a very negative relationship with Seoul and Western states due to its attempt to become a nuclear power and its claim over the whole Korean Peninsula.
The reconciliation of the three countries have recently taken place, especially on the Moscow-Pyongyang line, and the two countries’ potential military cooperation has concerned the whole world. Roots of these concern reaches back to the North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un’s visit to the Komsomolsk-na-Amure, a city located in the Russia’s far east, on September 13, 2023 [1] What makes this city important is the detail that the city hosts a military aircraft factory. Kim visited the factory in question on September 15, 2023. [2]
During Kim’s factory visit, statements of Denis Manturov, the Minister of Industry and Trade of Russia, that the potential is understood and that the cooperation is open in many areas [3] further increased the possibilities of mutual military cooperation and alarmed the West. In addition, it should be stated that the Putin-Kim meeting held on September 13, 2023, and Kim Jong Un’s view that the visit reflected the strategic importance between two countries made a great impact in the West. [4]
As it is mentioned above, the rapproachment between Pyongyang and Moscow made a significant impact in the West. On September 20, 2023, South Korean leader Yoon Suk-yeol’s explanations during the annual meetings of the United Nations General Assembly are important to exemplify how uncomfortable the Seoul government is about the situation. Yoon points out that Russia’s assistance in developing weapons programs in exchange for North Korea’s assistance to the war in Ukraine would be a direct provocation and that Seoul and its allies would not remain indifferent to this situation. [5] Furthermore, Yoon’s statement that the problem would not only harm the stability and peace in Ukraine, but also harm South Korea is worth the add
Moreover, on September 27, 2023, North Korea declared itself an “unstoppable nuclear power forever”. In his speech regarding constitutional amendment, Kim Jong-un described the South Korean and Japanese cooperation as “the worst real thread”. [6]
It would be correct to say that the developing Russian-North Korean relationship contributed to the increasing interaction and ice-breaking between South Korea and Japan. That’s because Japan and South Korea have many common sides about the North Korea issue, along with the nuclear and military threat. The uncompromising approach of the Pyongyang government towards the problems therefore causes this case.
It is known that Japan has many times met North Korea and Mongolia, having good relations with Pyongyang, for kidnapped Japanese citizens since the 1990s. [7] However, no results have been obtained from these meetings, and the problem has remained protracted The last contact on the subject occurred on the spring of 2023, according to the news reflected in the media. [8] No results were obtained again.
The situation Japan is in has had a positive impact on Japanese-Korean relations. This condition has not only remained at an administrative level, but also spread to the young population. According to a recent study, 79% of Korean citizens between the age of 20-30 wants the relationship between Japan and South Korea to be improved. [9] This emerging picture indicates that the Seoul-Tokyo partnership will arise against the developing alliance between Russia and North Korea.
In conclusion, during the Ukrainian War and the following period, Russia found itself in a very isolated situation in the international system. This condition of Russia led it to see its relations with North Korea as a way of escaping isolation. Therefore, steps are taken to object to the current circumstance, especially from South Korea and Japan. It would not be wrong to put forward that Moscow-Pyongyang relations have played a driving force role in the further development of Seoul-Tokyo relations.
[1] “North Korea’s Kim Arrives in Eastern Russian City for Expected Visit to Fighter Jet Plant”, AP News, apnews.com/article/north-korea-russia-kim-putin-missile-0d70f5190df1088ebe53e8ca19f8e9c9, (15.09.2023).
[2] “Kim Jong-Un Visits Russian Aircraft Plants İn Far East”, AA, www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/kim-jong-un-visits-russian-aircraft-plants-in-far-east/2993159, (15.09.2023).
[3] Aynı yer.
[4] “Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin Meet for Talks in Russia”, BBC, www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66787449, (Erişim Tarihi: 13.09.2023).
[5] “S Korea’s Yoon Tells UN That Russia Helping N Korea Would Be ‘Provocation’” Aljazeera, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/20/s-koreas-yoon-tells-un-that-russia-helping-n-korea-would-be-provocation, (Erişim Tarihi: 20.09.2023).
[6] “North Korean Parliament Enshrines Nuclear Ambitions İn Constitution”, Aljazeera, www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/27/north-korean-parliament-enshrines-nuclear-ambitions-in-constitution, (Erişim Tarihi: 27.09.2023).
[7] Elcan TOKMAK, “Kuzey Kore Sorununda Moğolistan’ın Önemi”, ANKASAM, /www.ankasam.org/kuzey-kore-sorununda-mogolistanin-onemi/, (Erişim Tarihi: 01.10.2023).
[8] “Japan And North Korea Met İnformally This Year Over Abduction Row”, The Japan Times, www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/09/30/japan/politics/north-korea-japan-talks-abductions/, (Erişim Tarihi: 30.10.2023).
[9] “Poll Shows 79% Of Young Koreans Agree on Need To İmprove Ties with Japan”, The Kore Times, www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/nation/2023/09/113_360243.html, (Erişim Tarihi: 30.10.2023).
