The Unlikely Alliance: Russia and North Korea’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
In June 2024, a significant geopolitical agreement—dubbed the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”—was formed between two unlikely allies: Russia and North Korea. This deal sent shockwaves around the globe as it seemingly challenged the dominance of the United States and its allies, promising a “just and multipolar new world order.”
However, the reality behind this pact is anything but noble. Russia, grappling with the aftermath of its aggressive war in Ukraine, found an ally in North Korea, a pariah state led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who evokes both laughter and dread with his policies and personal style. This alliance is more about mutual defiance against Western powers than shared ideals.
Before the partnership was even ratified, reports emerged that North Korea had dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, a move NATO characterized as a “dangerous escalation.” Yet, this claim of escalation quickly unraveled. The North Korean soldiers who made the journey were anything but elite warriors; they were, rather, the dregs of the North Korean military.
Estimates from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR) reveal that about 2,000 of these troops joined Russian units, while the remaining 9,000 were relegated to behind-the-lines roles. These positions primarily involve tasks like guarding checkpoints and digging fortifications. While the prospect of more North Korean soldiers may appear daunting, many intelligence analysts regard them as a liability rather than an asset.
The North Korean troops, reportedly poorly trained and poorly equipped, began arriving in Russia as early as October. With meager rations and an outdated understanding of military protocols, they are a far cry from a capable fighting force. Their training, if one can call it that, is optimized for sheer numbers rather than effectiveness, a stark reality that former defectors have revealed. Many soldiers are undernourished, often reduced to farming rather than engaging in military exercises.
This lack of preparation came to the forefront when intercepted communications from Russian soldiers indicated severe frustration about how to utilize these troops effectively. The supposed boost to Russian military capabilities is akin to inheriting a collection of military misfits—an outcome that, while disappointing to Putin, has become a glaring flaw in the operation.
Moving to Combat: A Language Barrier and Miscalculations
Putin’s hopes for an effective combat force from North Korea quickly fell apart against practical realities. The soldiers he received are essentially rookies lacking real-world experience. Deployments prior to this one were small-scale and not combat-oriented, leading to a significant shortfall in necessary combat skills. The North Korean troops’ unfamiliarity with modern military equipment only compounds their ineffectiveness, rendering them ill-suited for the complexities of contemporary warfare.
Moreover, the language barrier further complicates their integration into Russian military units. Ultimately, the expectation that these soldiers could seamlessly operate within Russian ranks proved naïve. The limited language training they received—about 100 military terms—simply was not enough to ensure smooth communications during operations, creating an operational nightmare during critical moments in battle.
Escalating Warfare: Strategic Consequences for Russia
While the North Korean troops were meant to bolster Russian numbers, they inadvertently opened the door for Ukraine to increase its long-range munition strikes on Russian territory. The rationale behind President Biden's authorization for Ukraine to utilize American-supplied ATACMS missiles was the presence of North Korean forces, now advancing over the border and amplifying Ukraine's response options.
This maneuver transformed the battlefield, with Ukrainian forces able to strike back more intensely than previously anticipated. The very presence of the North Korean contingent in Russia became a point of vulnerability, suggesting that what was intended to serve as a reinforcement became an unexpected point of exposure.
Surprisingly, it appears that Kim Jong Un has emerged as the true victor from this arrangement. By sending neglected soldiers to Russia, he eliminated an underperforming unit from his ranks while simultaneously gaining financial benefits from Moscow. Reports indicate that Russia pays these soldiers about $2,000 per month, providing much-needed revenue for the beleaguered North Korean state.
Additionally, the potential exchange of military technology between Russia and North Korea, including outmoded MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets, underscores the partnership's value beyond mere troop deployment. This arrangement fortifies Kim’s position in global politics, allowing him to leverage the tensions among superpowers to North Korea’s advantage.
Despite the outward appearance of strength in this partnership, both leaders of Russia and North Korea find themselves in precarious positions. Although Putin has inadvertently created a dangerous dependence on inept soldiers from a country that continually showcases military ineptitude, Kim has skillfully positioned himself as the savvy strategist.
As the dynamics shift further toward a global landscape increasingly defined by multipolarity, this unpopular alliance illustrates the lengths to which both nations will go to project strength—neither able to admit the underlying weaknesses of their situation. For Putin, the consequences of this significant miscalculation may prove embarrassing, while Kim continues to navigate the waters of domestic and international pressures with relative ease, all while benefiting from this flawed alliance.
The question remains: how long can this tenuous relationship endure before the personal ambitions of Putin and Kim collide with the stark realities of their collective failures?
Part 1/11:
The Unlikely Alliance: Russia and North Korea’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
In June 2024, a significant geopolitical agreement—dubbed the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”—was formed between two unlikely allies: Russia and North Korea. This deal sent shockwaves around the globe as it seemingly challenged the dominance of the United States and its allies, promising a “just and multipolar new world order.”
However, the reality behind this pact is anything but noble. Russia, grappling with the aftermath of its aggressive war in Ukraine, found an ally in North Korea, a pariah state led by Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who evokes both laughter and dread with his policies and personal style. This alliance is more about mutual defiance against Western powers than shared ideals.
Part 2/11:
North Korean Troops: A Dubious Contribution
Before the partnership was even ratified, reports emerged that North Korea had dispatched approximately 10,000 troops to Russia, a move NATO characterized as a “dangerous escalation.” Yet, this claim of escalation quickly unraveled. The North Korean soldiers who made the journey were anything but elite warriors; they were, rather, the dregs of the North Korean military.
Part 3/11:
Estimates from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (GUR) reveal that about 2,000 of these troops joined Russian units, while the remaining 9,000 were relegated to behind-the-lines roles. These positions primarily involve tasks like guarding checkpoints and digging fortifications. While the prospect of more North Korean soldiers may appear daunting, many intelligence analysts regard them as a liability rather than an asset.
The Flawed State of North Korean Soldiers
Part 4/11:
The North Korean troops, reportedly poorly trained and poorly equipped, began arriving in Russia as early as October. With meager rations and an outdated understanding of military protocols, they are a far cry from a capable fighting force. Their training, if one can call it that, is optimized for sheer numbers rather than effectiveness, a stark reality that former defectors have revealed. Many soldiers are undernourished, often reduced to farming rather than engaging in military exercises.
Part 5/11:
This lack of preparation came to the forefront when intercepted communications from Russian soldiers indicated severe frustration about how to utilize these troops effectively. The supposed boost to Russian military capabilities is akin to inheriting a collection of military misfits—an outcome that, while disappointing to Putin, has become a glaring flaw in the operation.
Moving to Combat: A Language Barrier and Miscalculations
Part 6/11:
Putin’s hopes for an effective combat force from North Korea quickly fell apart against practical realities. The soldiers he received are essentially rookies lacking real-world experience. Deployments prior to this one were small-scale and not combat-oriented, leading to a significant shortfall in necessary combat skills. The North Korean troops’ unfamiliarity with modern military equipment only compounds their ineffectiveness, rendering them ill-suited for the complexities of contemporary warfare.
Part 7/11:
Moreover, the language barrier further complicates their integration into Russian military units. Ultimately, the expectation that these soldiers could seamlessly operate within Russian ranks proved naïve. The limited language training they received—about 100 military terms—simply was not enough to ensure smooth communications during operations, creating an operational nightmare during critical moments in battle.
Escalating Warfare: Strategic Consequences for Russia
Part 8/11:
While the North Korean troops were meant to bolster Russian numbers, they inadvertently opened the door for Ukraine to increase its long-range munition strikes on Russian territory. The rationale behind President Biden's authorization for Ukraine to utilize American-supplied ATACMS missiles was the presence of North Korean forces, now advancing over the border and amplifying Ukraine's response options.
This maneuver transformed the battlefield, with Ukrainian forces able to strike back more intensely than previously anticipated. The very presence of the North Korean contingent in Russia became a point of vulnerability, suggesting that what was intended to serve as a reinforcement became an unexpected point of exposure.
Kim Jong Un: The Real Beneficiary
Part 9/11:
Surprisingly, it appears that Kim Jong Un has emerged as the true victor from this arrangement. By sending neglected soldiers to Russia, he eliminated an underperforming unit from his ranks while simultaneously gaining financial benefits from Moscow. Reports indicate that Russia pays these soldiers about $2,000 per month, providing much-needed revenue for the beleaguered North Korean state.
Additionally, the potential exchange of military technology between Russia and North Korea, including outmoded MiG-29 and Su-27 fighter jets, underscores the partnership's value beyond mere troop deployment. This arrangement fortifies Kim’s position in global politics, allowing him to leverage the tensions among superpowers to North Korea’s advantage.
Conclusion: An Alliance of Necessity
Part 10/11:
Despite the outward appearance of strength in this partnership, both leaders of Russia and North Korea find themselves in precarious positions. Although Putin has inadvertently created a dangerous dependence on inept soldiers from a country that continually showcases military ineptitude, Kim has skillfully positioned himself as the savvy strategist.
Part 11/11:
As the dynamics shift further toward a global landscape increasingly defined by multipolarity, this unpopular alliance illustrates the lengths to which both nations will go to project strength—neither able to admit the underlying weaknesses of their situation. For Putin, the consequences of this significant miscalculation may prove embarrassing, while Kim continues to navigate the waters of domestic and international pressures with relative ease, all while benefiting from this flawed alliance.
The question remains: how long can this tenuous relationship endure before the personal ambitions of Putin and Kim collide with the stark realities of their collective failures?