North Korea's Strategic Partnerships: A New Era Of Alliances

North Korea has emerged as an increasingly valuable partner to the United States' leading adversaries, including Russia and Iran, as they engage in conflicts with nations backed by the U.S. and its allies. While often dismissed in the West as a backward and isolated power dependent on China, North Korea has amassed an expansive and increasingly advanced arsenal of weapons, and it has a history of aiding foreign partners caught up in conflicts abroad. Now, with North Korean arms and personnel appearing on the battlefield in Europe and recent overtures in the Middle East, the nuclear-armed nation appears poised to further boost its role on the world stage with big benefits for Pyongyang and new headaches for Washington.

"North Korea is obviously in a situation right now where they basically want to have a bit more of a role beyond the peninsula," Samuel Ramani, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, told Newsweek. "They are in a unique position, where they're no longer just relying on Chinese patronage, they can now play Russia and China off each other, which is what they did during that large portion of the Cold War, particularly during the Sino-Soviet split and its aftermath," he added. "They also want to diversify their partnerships."

But the country still on the front lines of one of the Cold War's longest running disputes has begun making moves that exceed even its most proactive deployments decades ago. The U.S. and NATO have estimated that up to 10,000 North Korean personnel have arrived to back Russia's war effort against Ukraine, marking the largest deployment of North Korean personnel since the Korean War that ravaged the shared peninsula from 1950 to 1953.

"This is a very, very significant move for the North Koreans, and it's not one that we should be taking as any kind of continuity," Ramani said, "even when they were involved in support of socialist allies in the past."

A New Eurasian Alliance

The relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang dates back to the very foundation of North Korea as a Soviet satellite state opposite U.S.-backed South Korea when the peninsula was first divided by the rival superpowers at the end of World War II. The Soviet Union and newly communist-ruled China intervened in support of North Korea during its three-year war with South Korea and a U.S.-led international coalition that ended in a virtual stalemate and no lasting peace.

Pyongyang maintained close ties to both Beijing and Moscow throughout the Cold War and dedicated troops and advisers to participate in conflicts such as the Vietnam War and Angolan Civil War, both of which resulted in socialist victories. North Korea's relations with the two communist giants survived their split that began in the 1960s, though then-Supreme Leader Kim Il Sung, grandfather of the current ruler, steadily grew closer to the latter as he worked to develop a distinct national ideology based on fierce self-reliance.

Current Military Dynamics

The collapse of the Soviet Union led to massive disruptions in North Korea's economy, exacerbated by a large-scale famine in the 1990s. Pyongyang gradually grew closer to Beijing in the years that followed but continued to foster ties with Moscow as Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to restore his nation’s superpower status in the 21st century. When Russia launched its war in Ukraine in February 2022, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un was one of the few world leaders to openly support Putin and echo his justifications of seeking to combat NATO expansion in Europe.

Later that year, U.S. officials accused North Korea of providing munitions to Russia, but the situation took a drastic turn when Putin and Kim signed an unprecedented mutual defense treaty. "A military partnership has been established in Asia for the first time among nations that are not friendly towards the United States," Alexey Maslov, director of the Institute of Asian and African Studies at Moscow State University, told Newsweek.

Risks and Opportunities

Christopher Chivvis, former U.S. national intelligence officer, has identified some ways in which the newly fortified partnership between Russia and North Korea could manifest on the battlefield. "North Korea has provided Russia with large numbers of artillery rounds—perhaps as many as 5 million shells over the last year—which Russia badly needs to sustain its war effort," Chivvis explained.

He noted that while North Korea's contribution could enhance Russia's military efforts, there are substantial risks involved for both nations. Jong Eun Lee, a former South Korean intelligence officer, highlighted concerns about North Korean troops suffering casualties and the impact on their closed society, while Russia may struggle with integrating foreign troops into its military structure.

Northern Alliances and the Middle East

The impact of the Russia-North Korea partnership extends beyond Europe and East Asia. North Korea's recent moves come amid a deeper break with Washington and a hardening stance against U.S. interests globally, including in the Middle East. The DPRK's refusal of U.S. denuclearization suggestions due to a lack of security guarantees illustrates its commitment to enhancing its nuclear capabilities.

North Korea has long supported anti-Israel forces and has provided military assistance to various groups opposed to Israel, including Hamas and Hezbollah. This historical context sets the stage for North Korea's continued collaboration with Iran, particularly amid the evolving geopolitical landscape.

Conclusion and Future Implications

As North Korea continues to strengthen its alliances with Russia and Iran, the implications for global security are significant. The potential for further cooperation in military technology and arms sales raises concerns for the U.S. and its allies. This evolving dynamic underscores the importance of monitoring these strategic partnerships closely as they could reshape the balance of power in the region.