The relationship between North Korea and Russia goes all the way back to the Cold War when the two countries worked together as partners against the Western bloc.

Russia became more helpful and realistic with the West and South Korea after the fall of the Soviet Union, which made their relationship tense and far more distant. 

There are signs that the relationship between North Korea and Russia is getting stronger again. This is because both countries are facing more problems and pressures worldwide. Russia’s takeover of Crimea and interference in eastern Ukraine have been harshly criticised and punished by the US and its allies.

North Korea’s ongoing efforts to build nuclear and missile capabilities have led to many UN Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and harsh actions. Building on their shared concerns and interests, North Korea and Russia have been working to strengthen their strategic relationship and help each other. 

The contemporary deepening ties are an alarming alliance that severely undermines human rights, enables weapons proliferation, and destabilises security on the Korean Peninsula. As Pyongyang embraces Moscow economically and militarily, the international community must unite to halt this dangerous relationship before costs escalate further. 

A closer relationship between North Korea and Russia could lead to a trade in arms and technology that benefits both countries. This would make both nations’ militaries stronger and weaken sanctions.

News reports say that North Korea has sent containers to Russia that could hold millions of artillery shells. This lets President Vladimir Putin keep attacking Ukraine even though Kyiv is running out of ammo. In exchange, Russia gives North Korea food, raw materials, and parts that are used to make weapons. This could help Kim keep the prices of basic goods stable while he builds his nuclear weapons programme. 

Russia could also give North Korea advanced weapons technology, like hypersonic missiles, stealth jets, and electronic warfare systems.

According to news reports, North Korea has recognised the independence of Russia-installed governments in breakaway provinces in Ukraine under Moscow’s control. In response to the recognition and support of Russia, Ukraine terminated diplomatic ties with North Korea. 

Moreover, Russia has offered political support and protection to North Korea from further UN condemnation and pressure.

For instance, Putin’s limousine gift to Kim Jong-un symbolises Russia-North Korea ties, and Russia has vetoed several UN resolutions that aimed to impose more sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear and missile tests.

This recognition and support could undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and embolden North Korea to continue its provocations and defiance of the international community. 

Significantly, North Korea’s horrendous human rights record cannot be ignored. The despotic Kim regime ruthlessly crushed dissent through arbitrary detentions, torture, forced labour camps, public executions, and collective punishment.

Russia is now directly enabling these abuses by propping up its regional ally politically and financially. The Kremlin’s veto of UN humanitarian assistance and acceptance of North Korean slave labour reveal an unconscionable disregard for human dignity. 

The strengthening ties between North Korea and Russia pose a serious threat to Seoul’s security by potentially escalating the risk of a military conflict in the Korean Peninsula, obstructing diplomatic attempts to denuclearise North Korea, and disrupting the regional balance of power.

With Russia’s cooperation, North Korea might bolster its nuclear and missile capabilities, presenting a direct and immediate threat to South Korea and its allies. North Korea may have reduced motivation and external pressure to participate in discussions and collaboration with South Korea and the global community since Russia might protect it from additional sanctions and disapproval. 

In light of the gravity of these challenges, regional and international actors must respond in a strong and unified manner through multilateral cooperation and enforcement of existing sanctions regimes.

The UNSC should continue passing resolutions expanding sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear tests and prohibiting all member states from transferring weapons or dual-use technologies. 

Consistent multilateral pressure must be maintained by freezing assets, restricting financial transactions, banning oil and other key resources exports, and imposing travel bans on leadership and their families. UN sanctions must be broadened and strictly enforced, with no exceptions for Moscow. North Korean bank accounts and revenue sources abroad must be frozen immediately, including from labour and illicit activities. 

The diplomatic isolation of North Korea should also be expanded. Regionally, advanced military capabilities and security integration must accelerate among the US, South Korea and Japan. Missile defense systems, joint exercises, and intelligence sharing are essential to counter the North Korean threat enabled by Russia.

China also bears responsibility for restricting cross-border flows and enforcing UN sanctions. Most importantly, North Korea’s appalling human rights abuses must remain at the forefront. 

The international community failed to stop past atrocities in places like Rwanda and Bosnia. The world cannot repeat this failure and must act to prevent further crimes against humanity. The people of North Korea suffer silently while their oppressors grow stronger through forbidden ties. This injustice demands loud voices and bold action to isolate the Kim regime until real reforms emerge. 

The growing alliance between North Korea and Russia presents a substantial risk to worldwide security, stability and human rights. This alliance promotes the spread of weapons, hinders diplomatic attempts to denuclearise North Korea, and poses a challenge to the current global order.

Arms and technology transfer between the two countries may intensify hostilities in regions such as Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula. Russia’s political and diplomatic backing of North Korea encourages Pyongyang to persist in its provocative measures and human rights violations. 

The international community has to uphold robust multilateral cooperation, enforce current sanctions, and prioritise human rights issues to tackle these challenges.

In addition, cooperation between regional players like China, Japan, South Korea and ASEAN is required to counter the North Korean threat, prevent new crimes, and preserve regional stability while advancing fundamental rights. 

So Channtha is a Politics and International Relations Lecturer at the University of Cambodia.

The views expressed are his own.