(VOVworld)- The new Foreign Minister of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) Ri Su Yong is on a 10-day visit to Russia. This is the first visit by a Pyongyang official to Moscow in the 4 years since the two countries suspended diplomatic ties. The visit is expected to bring the two countries closer together.
In the 60 years since the two Koreas signed a cease-fire agreement, relations between DPRK and world powers have been dominated by geopolitical and nuclear issues. On this axis of relations, the interests and influences of world powers are different. On one end of the axis is Pyongyang, supported by Russia and China while on the other end are the US, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Stability and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula have been impossible because these countries have not been able to find a common denominator of their interests.
While 6-party talks on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula are on hold, China is revealing its ambition in the Asia-Pacific region and Pyongyang and Moscow, both of whom are under sanctions by the US and the West, recognize the need to resume their long-term partnership.
Mutual benefit
Russia has always pursued a consistent policy of maintaining peace and stability and refraining from using force on the Korean peninsula because any armed intervention in this region would threaten Russia, especially Russian territory in the Far East. Moscow considers DPRK an important part in its policy in the Asia-Pacific region. Pyongyang’s confrontation with Washington and staying away from China dream are good reasons for Russia to tighten its relations with DPRK and balance its influence in the region. Moscow hopes to bring Pyongyang back to the 6 party nuclear talks, which have been tabled since 2008. This would help Russia strengthen its international position which has suffered from the Ukrainian crisis. While the US promises to improve its relations with DPRK if the latter gives up its nuclear program, Russia is using its aid to persuade DPRK back to the negotiating table. Moscow has agreed to write off 90% of DPRK’s debts from the Cold War and discount payments on the remaining 10% of the debts. So for Pyongyang, Moscow is proving a reliable friend.
Now is an opportune time for DPRK to cooperate with Russia, the world’s 8th largest economy because DPRK is struggling under economic sanctions. Russia has been North Korea’s 3rd largest trade partner at approximately 100 million USD annually. Pyongyang’s decision to use rubles instead of euros in its transactions with Moscow since June reflects closer economic ties. Moscow has prepared a list of Russian companies ready to invest in fossil fuel exploitation and in return Pyongyang says it’s willing to sell Russia construction materials and buy oil and gas products and Russian light-industry materials and agricultural products.
Creating a counterpoise with influential partners
According to analysts, in addition to economic benefits, Russia-North Korean cooperation will create a counterpoise with many influential partners in North Korea. In recent years, Pyongyang has made an effort to reduce its dependence on China. Pyongyang’s newspapers have recently discussed this effort. A decree of the Workers’ Party of North Korea released in April, 2014 asked North Korean state-owned commercial companies to reduce dependence on China and strengthen trade relations with Russia and other European countries.
Though Moscow and Pyongyang are making every effort to get closer, it will take time to see whether the two countries can take full advantage of their ties to achieve their goals. Geographical distance and Pyongyang’s internal policies will the two major hurdles.