Breaking his isolation due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the North Korean leader chose to make a historic visit to his Russian counterpart, primarily to discuss a significant cooperation agreement. After a lengthy journey on an armored train (instead of a plane, for security reasons), he arrived at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Russian Far East. Here, Putin welcomed him and invited him to sit in his Aurus Senat limousine, a Russian-made car symbolizing self-sufficiency. The agenda set the tone towards an armament cooperation for two countries in need during wartime: a tour of the state-of-the-art Vostochny Cosmodrome space launch facilities, the exchange of symbolic firearms as gifts, the joint launch of two ballistic missiles in North Korea, Kim’s touring of shipyards, aircraft factories, and various Russian military installations before his return to his home country.

In reality, we possess only limited information about this agreement due to the secrecy surrounding most of the discussions. As articulated by Fyodor Tertitskiy, a North Korean military researcher at Kookmin University in Seoul, “We observed a two-fold event – a grand spectacle primarily designed for foreign audiences and undisclosed agreements behind closed doors, the significance of which remains uncertain.” Hence the importance for the international community to focus on the actions taken rather than the words exchanged by both leaders. Indeed, it appears that the agreement is rooted more in pragmatism than in genuine friendship. On one hand, burdened by international sanctions, Putin requires weaponry to advance his devastating war efforts in Ukraine. However, the choice to engage with Kim Jong-un was not arbitrary, as he is, in the words of Sarah Son, a North Korea expert at the University of Sheffield, “worthy of the attention of the leader of a major global power.” On the other hand, considering the economic mismanagement and widespread malnutrition among the North Korean population, along with technological lag, Kim Jong-un also views Russia as a means to circumvent international sanctions.

It is believed that this diplomatic event poses a significant threat to global peace, as it has the potential to greatly impact the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and further Kim’s military ambitions. Firstly, the agreement could potentially involve Russia providing technological assistance to North Korea, including the installation of spy satellites in space, which would enable Kim to exert greater control over the population’s access to the internet. This action runs counter to UN sanctions, specifically Resolution 2270, which prohibits any country from engaging in technological cooperation with North Korea. Moreover, there is concern about the development of nuclear weapons and long-range missile capabilities that could pose a direct threat to the United States. Additionally, discussions have revolved around the possibility of joint military maneuvers involving China, Russia, and North Korea, in response to similar exercises conducted by South Korea and the United States, escalating tensions in the region. It is believed that this situation should serve as a wake-up call to all UN member states for enforcing greater sanctions on both Pyongyang and Moscow to the extent that they are unable to provide assistance to each other.

This event is also marked by history as North Korea and Russia have been partners for a long time now. This meeting served as an occasion to commemorate the 75th anniversary of North Korea’s founding and the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Soviet Union and North Korea. When Putin initiated this reconciliation with the newly formed Russia back in 2000, he was aware of the potential for historical narratives to be manipulated. Despite North Korea heavily relying on China for approximately 90% of its trade income, it retains memories of a time when the Chinese empire viewed the Korean Kingdoms as mere satellites. Given that China did not intervene to halt American involvement in the Korean War, North Korea appears to place more trust in Russia today. Both these powers appear willing to disregard their international legal obligations, making their partnership potentially more menacing than initially perceived.

Therefore, it is imperative for UN member states to recognize the significance of this meeting and enhance their intelligence efforts to forestall any threats to international peace stemming from this cooperation agreement. Rather than merely focusing on rhetoric, close attention should be paid to the actions of these two nations. Additionally, sanctions should be targeted at the critical military domains rather than exacerbating the suffering of the already vulnerable North Korean population.