North Korea leader visits Russia

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS - In Brief 24 Apr 2019 by Alex Teddy
Kim Jong Un arrived in Vladivostok, Russia on April 25. The North Korean leader is in Russia's Far East to meet President Putin for the first time. North Korea and Russia have been allies since 1945. Sanctions on North Korea are biting, and a summit between Kim and Trump last month made no progress. Russia is one of the only three countries to border North Korea. Moscow states that 8000 North Koreans are working in Russia. The real figure is suspected to be significantly higher. North Korea needs food and hard currency. Its main exports are coal and cheap labor. Russia needs neither. North Korea wants to show the US that it has trade partners. This is not very convincing. Moscow can show the US that it can make the Korean situation better or worse for the US - depending on American behavior. Putin could act as the honest broken between North Korea and Washington. Russia genuinely does not want to see a conflict in Korea, which would impact the Russian Far East. But if the US annoys Russia then the Russians can provide the North Koreans with enough food and USD to stiffen their resistance to US demands. Kim tested new weapons last week. He has demanded that Trump replace his Defense Secretary. Kim's visit to Russia is an attempt to show that he is not friendless. As the Russian economy strengthens the Russians are in a better position to be generous.

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