While North Korea is suspected of asking Russia for nuclear technology in return for its support, other countries eye nuclearization in self-defence

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North Korea’s ongoing military support of Russia — including the recent arrival of approximately 10,000 North Korean troops near the Ukrainian border — has raised the chilling question of what Pyongyang has asked for in return for its aid. If, as suspected, that includes nuclear technology, the devastating reality will be that by showing weakness in Ukraine, the West has encouraged nuclear proliferation.

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Russia and China have always considered North Korea to be a strategic military asset, yet, before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, both countries understandably saw Pyongyang’s nuclear program as a threat to regional stability. As such, they collaborated with the West to constrain North Korean nuclear capabilities where possible, and even supported multiple rounds of UN sanctions that further crippled the rogue state.

While Russia sometimes failed to adhere to these sanctions, its economic decoupling from North Korea was nonetheless so severe that trade fell from a peak of $220 million in 2005 to just $3.8 million in 2022 —  a reduction of 98 per cent.

But then the attack on Ukraine changed everything. Lacking allies and sufficient munitions, Moscow turned to Pyongyang for aid and found a willing and productive partner.

After North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un visited Russia in late 2023, his regime began........

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