China and North Korea can’t stand each other

U.S. intelligence has said that North Korea’s deepening ties with Russia are enabling Kim Jong-un to “counterbalance” his country’s dependency on China.

While the alliance between Pyongyang and Beijing is well established, their military cooperation is virtually non-existent, according to Decker Eveleth, an analyst at the Virginia-based CNA Corporation think tank.

In recent years, North Korea’s partnership with Moscow has taken on new dimensions—especially after Pyongyang agreed to provide military support to Russia in its war against Ukraine.

The regime reportedly sent a contingent of 11,000 troops to Russia to assist in retaking the Kursk region, part of which was seized by Ukrainian forces during a surprise offensive last summer.

According to a report from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA), Pyongyang and Beijing have no "military cooperation".

“North Korea almost certainly is receiving reciprocal military cooperation from Moscow—including SA-22 surface-to-air missile systems and electronic warfare equipment—for providing soldiers and material to support Russia’s war against Ukraine,” the report states.

Despite growing military ties with Russia, North Korea remains heavily reliant on China for trade, with 98.3% of its foreign trade conducted with Beijing in 2023.

(QG - Source: Newsweek  — Picture : © Unsplash)