North Korea's Kim Openly Talks Up 'Necessity' of Russia Military Ties
NewsweekJul 20
SKorea: Russia Likely Aided NKorea's Failed Satellite Launch
Above: Russia's Pres. Vladimir Putin (R) and North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un attend a welcoming ceremony before Russian-North Korean talks on June 19, 2024, in Pyongyang. Image copyright: Contributor/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
Members of South Korea's parliamentary intelligence committee told reporters on Monday, citing assessments from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), that Russia likely assisted North Korea in its failed reconnaissance satellite launch in May.
South Korea's spy agency briefed lawmakers that Pyongyang had used a "liquid oxygen and petroleum engine" — which exploded minutes after lift-off — for the first time, despite no indications North Korea had developed such an engine.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Kremlin has joined forces with Pyongyang in a desperate move to continue its war of aggression against Ukraine, establishing a partnership that is unlikely to last long, but that could shake up Northeast Asia and the world. It's pressing that the West ramps up its deterrence strategy against Russia and engages diplomatically with Beijing, which is also interested in stability in the Korean Peninsula despite the actions of its junior allies.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's no wonder that enemies of North Korea and Russia are complaining that the countries have established a comprehensive strategic partnership, as the regional balance of power has been fundamentally changed. Moscow and Pyongyang are now bound to provide each other immediate military assistance in case of a defensive war, so potential aggressors would naturally object to such a union.