What Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin’s deepening relationship reveals about the emerging international order.
Editor’s note: This piece was originally published on 13 September 2023 and was republished in light of events. On 18 June 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin travelled to North Korea to meet leader Kim Jong Un. The US has accused North Korea of supplying Russia with artillery and other equipment to use in its war in Ukraine. While both Putin and Kim have denied that an arms deal between their countries exists, in 2023 they did vow to strengthen ties.
When Kim Jong Un arrived in Vladivostok in April 2019 aboard his armoured train to meet Vladimir Putin, he was given a grand reception. A Russian military band played as he disembarked, and Putin welcomed him with a toast at a gala dinner. For Kim, whose diplomatic overtures to the United States had faltered and whose economy was struggling under international sanctions, the warm reception was a sign that his regime was not entirely isolated. However, it was more difficult to see what Russia stood to gain from the relationship at that point.
Fast forward to June 2024, and the context surrounding the relationship between North Korea and Russia has shifted dramatically. Kim Jong Un’s deepening ties with Vladimir Putin signal the emergence of a new international alignment, one in which the isolated and often vilified regimes of North Korea and Russia are finding common ground. This growing partnership reflects broader shifts in global power dynamics, where countries that have been ostracized by the West are increasingly turning to each other for support.
The US has raised alarms over the potential for an arms deal between Russia and North Korea, accusing Kim’s regime of supplying artillery and other military equipment to aid Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine. Both Putin and Kim have denied these claims, but the strengthening of their bilateral ties is evident. In 2023, they pledged to deepen their cooperation, and this visit only serves to reinforce that commitment. While the details of their collaboration remain unclear, it is becoming apparent that both leaders share a mutual interest in countering Western influence.
For Kim Jong Un, this relationship with Russia provides a crucial lifeline. While he may still face intense scrutiny and sanctions from the West, the increasing closeness with Russia offers a degree of political and economic support that strengthens his regime’s position. For Putin, the alliance with North Korea serves to diversify his international alliances and counterbalance the isolation Russia faces following its invasion of Ukraine.
This shift in relations also speaks to the broader changes taking place in the international order. As Russia and North Korea align themselves more closely, they are signaling the emergence of a counter-Western bloc that includes other authoritarian regimes such as China and Iran. This new coalition, while still in its formative stages, represents a significant challenge to the established order led by Western powers.
In this evolving geopolitical landscape, the once-dominant narrative of the “pariah state” is being rewritten. North Korea, once a symbol of isolation and defiance, is no longer standing alone. Its relationship with Russia is indicative of a new type of international solidarity, one that is built not on shared values or democratic principles, but on mutual interests and strategic convenience.
The deepening relationship between Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin is a stark reminder that the global power structure is changing. As more countries in the East and South look for alternatives to Western influence, alliances such as this one are likely to play an increasingly prominent role in shaping the future of international relations.
