Putin in Pyongyang? Proposed trip to meet Kim Jong-un reveals Russia’s growing reliance on North Korea

During a meeting with North Korean Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui in Moscow last week, Putin expressed his “willingness” to visit Pyongyang soon to meet supreme leader Kim, North Korean state news agency KCNA reported on Sunday.

If confirmed, the visit to Pyongyang would be Putin’s first since he travelled to the capital more than 23 years ago for talks with Kim’s late father, Kim Jong-il.

“Since it seems that [Chinese President] Xi Jinping is not as willing as Putin to openly side with Kim, this is especially important for the North Korean leader”, Pardo said.

North Korea is expected to continue reaping multiple economic benefits from Moscow, including hard cash and energy and technology transfers, while Russia’s status as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council with veto powers helps shield Pyongyang from international censure.

“Russia’s backing has made North Korea even more willing to openly threaten Washington and Seoul since it gives Pyongyang a strong diplomatic cover in the United Nations,” Pardo said.

As for Russia, Pardo said this is the first time in the history of its relations with North Korea in which it is the “supplicant” due to its weaker international clout.

“Over the decades, it has been Pyongyang going cap in hand to Moscow to request diplomatic, economic or military support. But this is the first time in which it is Russia in need of something that North Korea has,” Pardo said.

“It is a testament of Russia’s weakness and how far away it is from the only two superpowers today, the United States and China.”

Even without its closer Russia ties, North Korea was bound to ramp up its threats against the South Korean-American alliance ahead of the US elections in November, Pardo said.

Pyongyang