In a chilling convergence of ambition and authoritarianism, two of the world’s most brutal dictators have clasped hands in the shadows. On June 19, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian president Vladimir Putin signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement” at the Kumsusan Guesthouse in Pyongyang. This pact signals a profound shift in global alliances.

According to Putin, “The comprehensive partnership agreement signed today provides, among other things, for mutual assistance in the event of aggression against one of the parties to this agreement.” This alliance forms a cornerstone of Putin’s grand strategy to establish North Korea as Russia’s eastern outpost and ammunition depot to supply Russian forces in the Ukraine War.

Putin’s bitter experiences in the conflict have underscored the strategic importance of North Korea’s geopolitical position and military capabilities. Specifically, he wishes to make North Korea a buffer zone in Northeast Asia to counterbalance the United States. He criticized U.S. policy as the root cause of tensions in the Korean Peninsula, affirming North Korea’s right to protect its sovereignty. Moreover, he stated that “Russia does not rule out military-technical cooperation with North Korea,” a brazen endorsement of North Korea’s illegal and inhumane nuclear missile program.

Putin’s comments reveal his readiness to cooperate with Kim Jong-un on advanced technological support for North Korean military capabilities, including hypersonic missiles, reconnaissance satellites, nuclear-powered submarines, SLBMs, and miniaturized nuclear warheads. He may also be willing to assist in modernizing and expanding North Korea’s defense industry, encompassing the production........

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