Putin expected to visit North Korea

Putin is expected to visit North Korea today.

The visit will be Putin’s first visit to the country since 2000. Putin is expected to renew the Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness, and Cooperation, which focused primarily on short term economic relations and mutual defence partnership.

North Korea has supported Russia’s war effort in Ukraine since 2022, via supplying munitions and migrant workers.

In the short term, expect the treaty’s terms to  adopt a more substantive military element that enhances cooperation and activity. A clause that pushes for quick reunification of the Korean peninsula will likely be removed due to renewed tension on the Korean peninsula. Russia’s war effort in Ukraine has stagnated, and deepening its partnership with its long-time supporter will allow further exchange of weapons, migrant workers, and business. Aligned interests, a sinking economy, and a lack of support will likely force the deepening of cooperation between these countries. This expanded relationship will likely also worsen tensions on the Korean peninsula