Hong Hyun-ik: "North Korea's Visit to Russia Urges China's Active Support"

"Diplomatic Act Urging China to Awaken"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, who visited Russia for the first time in four years, is highly likely to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 13th. Former head of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and diplomatic expert Hong Hyun-ik stated that North Korea's visit to Russia signifies a call for China's active support.

On the 13th, on MBC's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus,' Hong said, "From Russia's perspective, China is more important, and for North Korea, China is more important than Russia. However, China's support for North Korea and Russia seems somewhat insufficient," adding, "This can be seen as a diplomatic act to urge China to wake up."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He explained that China becomes tense if cooperation between North Korea and Russia strengthens. He said, "Right after the Hanoi no-deal, General Secretary Kim went to Vladivostok in April to meet Putin. It was his first visit. After that, Putin went to Beijing and told Xi Jinping, 'I met Kim Jong-un,' and two months later, Chairman Xi visited North Korea for the first time since Kim took power."

The North Korea-Russia summit is expected to discuss technology transfers. Hong analyzed that the meeting of the two leaders at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in the Amur region of the Russian Far East, a symbol of space development, suggests the transfer of space development technology, intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology, nuclear submarine, and air force fighter jet technology. He said, "There is a city called Komsomolsk on the Amur River, which is the production site of Sukhoi fighter jets. If they acquire fighter jets, it could offset North Korea's overwhelming air force superiority," adding, "The visit of the Minister of Natural Resources indicates that North Korea is currently short of oil, so they might provide oil."

He continued, "They could provide space development technology, ICBM atmospheric re-entry technology, nuclear submarine technology, and aircraft."

In response to the host's question, "Isn't exchanging artillery shells, ICBM technology, SLBM (submarine-launched ballistic missile) technology, and food an unequal exchange?" he said, "Russia is currently at war," adding, "Imagine if our country were also at war. Is there anything more important than winning a war?"

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.