West risks overlooking North Korea's strengthening military ties
Gideon Rachman, the Financial Times' chief foreign affairs commentator, claims the West ignores North Korea's threat at its own peril. In his opinion, the Kim Jong Un regime possesses significant military potential to impact the situation in Europe and Asia.
Rachman points out that Pyongyang is strengthening its cooperation with Moscow, which he considers the most "dramatic" evidence of a "hostile axis" between Russia, North Korea, Iran, and China. However, he argues that North Korea receives the least attention from the West among these countries.
Experts on the Korean Peninsula, quoted by the "Financial Times," emphasize that Kim Jong Un abandoned efforts to improve relations with the United States several years ago and shifted toward confrontation with Seoul and Washington. In January, experts Robert Carlin and Siegfried Hecker warned that "Kim Jong Un has made a strategic decision to go to war," as the columnist reports.
In the same month, the North Korean leader announced the abandonment of the long-standing goal of reunification with the South. In June, he signed a mutual military assistance treaty with Russia. Recently, Pyongyang has destroyed roads connecting both Koreas.
The author notes that despite its poverty, North Korea is not backward in every respect. Poverty in North Korea doesn't mean the regime is backward in every aspect. Instead, it indicates that Kim prioritizes military development over the well-being of ordinary people, Rachman observes. Despite international isolation, Kim's regime has managed to build nuclear weapons, develop ballistic missile programs, and achieve the capacity to conduct cyber attacks.
North Korea sends soldiers to Ukraine. "Cannon fodder"
The "Financial Times" commentator also refers to reports of North Korean soldiers participating in Russia's war against Ukraine. Although 10,000 soldiers from North Korea won't determine the conflict's outcome, Kim's army numbers 1.3 million soldiers in active service, who could be used by Moscow as "cannon fodder."
According to Rachman, Kim Jong Un could benefit from technology transfers and financial support from Russia. Additionally, he might consider a potential conflict on the Korean Peninsula. If he supports Russia in a European war, will Russia one day reciprocate in an Asian conflict? the columnist wonders.
Increasing tensions on the Korean Peninsula might also benefit Beijing, complicating U.S. defense of Taiwan in the event of potential Chinese aggression on the island.
Rachman emphasizes that the West may soon face a difficult choice: allow Russia to defeat Ukraine with North Korea's help or increase support for Kyiv. The "Financial Times" notes that the USA, EU, and South Korea have tried to avoid escalation in Ukraine and the Korean Peninsula, but the situation may require decisive action.
