As Attention Turns to the Russia-Ukraine War... "North Korea Threat Grows Even Larger"

“Nuclear Weapon Maintenance and Cooperation with Russia Become More Bold”

As global attention focuses on the Ukraine war and the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian armed group Hamas, analyses suggest that the threat from North Korea is growing.

On the 27th (local time), the US Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that "while the world is looking elsewhere, North Korea has become a greater threat," surprising the US and its allies through nuclear weapons expansion, close ties with Russia, and abandoning the goal of peaceful reunification with South Korea.

WSJ diagnosed that North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un is exploiting the fragmented world order to solidify his status as a nuclear state. With the international community focused on the Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict, the North Korean issue is becoming more complicated. In particular, it is analyzed that the US is concentrating its diplomatic efforts on the two wars, making it difficult to intervene in the North Korean issue.

Attention was also drawn to North Korea's more blatant development of nuclear weapons through intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test launches. Since the 2019 summit between Chairman Kim and former US President Donald Trump ended in a 'no deal,' North Korea has become more audacious. It is analyzed that North Korea is moving away from the past 'custom' of promising to halt weapons-related activities to improve its international standing or receive external support.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

WSJ also reported that North Korea's strengthening cooperation with Russia is raising international concerns. Chairman Kim is said to have abandoned negotiations with the US after President Joe Biden took office and is focusing on relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In September last year, Chairman Kim held a summit with President Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Russia's Far East, agreeing on the development of bilateral relations.

Following reports that Russia fired North Korean-made shells in the Ukraine war, international vigilance regarding North Korea-Russia arms transactions has intensified.

Sydney Seiler, who served as the US special envoy for the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear program from 2014 to 2015, stated, "The weakened support among Americans for the Ukraine war and Israel's activities in the Gaza Strip may have given Chairman Kim the impression that the US is overextended and fatigued." Ken Gause, a North Korea expert, said, "Chairman Kim is adjusting relations with allies by increasing dependence on Russia."

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