Kim Jong Un bolsters Putin with troops and arms in Ukraine war
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un has strengthened Vladimir Putin's forces in the Ukraine war with the addition of 11,000 soldiers. This is just one of several figures reported by "The New York Times" concerning the aid Pyongyang is providing to Moscow in the ongoing invasion since February 2022.
6:33 AM EST, December 18, 2024
The American newspaper highlighted that, beyond the 11,000 soldiers provided by Kim Jong Un, Russia has also received "massive weapon supplies." These include 20,000 containers sent from North Korea to Russia, containing artillery shells, ballistic missiles, and rocket systems, among other things.
"The New York Times" notes that the dictator from Pyongyang is not acting selflessly. It is estimated that North Korea earned up to $5.5 billion from arms transactions and $572 million from military support. These amounts are significant for the isolated North Korean economy.
In exchange for its support, North Korea is set to receive deliveries worth billions of dollars in oil, food, and technology, which will help Kim Jong Un modernize the country's military despite Western sanctions.
Strategic partnership of two dictators
In mid-November 2024, Kim Jong Un signed a decree ratifying a strategic partnership treaty with Russia. This treaty obligates both parties to mutual military assistance. The Russian State Duma and the Federation Council had already approved the law ratifying this agreement, with Putin's signature formalizing it.
The treaty between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the Russian Federation includes a commitment to mutual military assistance in response to threats to their sovereignty.
One of the key elements of the agreement is support during military conflicts. This declaration means that if one of these countries faces a military attack, the other is committed to providing active support, potentially affecting the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific region.
Meanwhile, tensions are rising on the Korean Peninsula. In January of this year, North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un, in a speech before the National Assembly, called for "physical severance" from South Korea.
He also ordered the constitutional recognition of South Korea as an "enemy state" and advocated for the removal of terms like "peaceful reunification" from the constitution.
Following these directives, the "eye-catching" Unification Monument in Pyongyang and three agencies promoting inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation were dismantled. In October, parts of the roads connecting the Korean states were destroyed.
