North Korea’s nuclear test in early 2016 was met around the world with surprise and
condemnation.
The incredibly isolated Hermit Kingdom has spent the last half century growing increasingly
antagonistic, and today is one of the most disliked countries on earth.
But despite their negative global standing, North Korea is not necessarily all alone.
So, we wanted to know, who are North Korea’s allies?
Well, given the political history of North Korea’s formation, it is not all that surprising
that one of their few allies is Russia.
Following World War Two, the Korean peninsula was split down the middle.
The United States occupied the South, and the Soviet Union occupied the North.
The two sides failed to reach any unified plan, and by 1948, the Soviets had helped
North Korea establish their Communist-leaning dictatorship.
During the Cold War, Russia contributed to North Korea’s development, and even sent
thousands of their own troops in the Korean War.
They also provided significant amounts of humanitarian and military aid, as well as
nuclear reactors.
It is generally believed that although the Soviet Union did not intend for North Korea
to acquire nuclear weapons, they did so due to early nuclear investment by the Russian
government.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, so did their support for North Korea.
But since Vladimir Putin’s controversial rise to power in the early 2000s, friendly
relations between the two countries have reemerged.
In 2014, Russia forgave roughly $10 billion dollars of North Korea’s debt in the hopes
of establishing an oil pipeline in the region.
But of North Korea’s two allies, Russia is considerably less involved than the People’s
Republic of China.
North Korea and China share a roughly 900-mile border, and since the division of Korea, China
has provided considerable support to the fledgling nation.
Besides contributing troops to the Korean War, the two also signed a Mutual Aid and
Cooperation Friendship Treaty in 1961.
This treaty, which has been renewed several times, primarily protects North Korea against
foreign aggression.
Today, although relations with China have hit an all time low, China’s investments
in North Korean stability have hinged on preventing a mass migration of refugees.
China is by far North Korea’s largest trading partner and source of aid.
As of 2011, roughly 83% of North Korea’s imports and exports were with China.
However, according to a 2010 Wikileaks document, Chinese officials have referred to the Hermit
Kingdom as a “spoiled child”.
More recently, the PRC has publicly rebuked Kim Jong-Un’s illegal nuclear program, straining
tensions even further.
But while North Korea’s nuclear aims have isolated the country, they have also created
unexpected alliances.
As a major weapons dealer, North Korea has long been suspected of selling weapons to
Iran during the Iran-Iraq War.
In 2012, the two countries signed a scientific cooperation pact, which many believe is intended
to further both of their nuclear weapons programs.
A decade earlier, a similar pact between North Korea and Syria reportedly led to plutonium
reactors being constructed in Eastern Syria.
North Korea’s predominantly military and weapons based alliances have made them a dangerous
world power.
But in 2015, the country sent out diplomats to Cuba and Equatorial Guinea, both former
Soviet supporting nations.
Some believe that this move shows North Korea seeking renewed relationships in light of
their shaky ties to allies like Russia and China.
In the end, North Korea diplomacy may not be a good sign for the rest of the world.
North Korea’s 2016 nuclear test spurred not only uneasiness but also confusion.
How does a hermit kingdom get ahold of nuclear weapons?
We investigate this question in
our video.
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