By Daniel DePetris
Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't have many friends these days. His decision to invade, pummel, and occupy Ukrainian territory has transitioned Russia into a pariah state in the West. Trade between Russia and the European Union, worth 247.8 billion euros per year before the war, is now a shell of its former self. U.S.-Russia ties are practically severed, Europe no longer views Russia as a reliable energy supplier, and Russian citizens who wish to travel to the EU are forced to pay more for their visas.
But there is one country that has stood by Russia's side for the duration of the war—and it's not China. Despite Xi Jinping's proclamations of having a "no limits" friendship with Moscow, the Chinese leader remains concerned about breaking U.S. export rules to help Russia acquire sensitive military technology.
But North Korea, the small, poor, isolated nuclear-armed state in Northeast Asia, has offered Putin a degree of political support that makes Beijing's look pale in comparison. And unlike China, which must ensure its bridges with the West remain intact (Beijing's total trade with the U.S. and the EU in 2021 amounted to more than $1.3 trillion), Pyongyang's open endorsement of Russia's policy in Ukraine won't cost the North Koreans much at all in terms of damage to its reputation or economy. For North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, a stronger relationship with Moscow is a no-brainer.
This piece was originally published in Newsweek on September 16, 2022. Read more HERE.