"Mr. Kim's recent with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the new mutual defense treaty with the Russian Federation have developed into an of unexpected consequences. The 15,000 North Korean troops assisting Russian forces in the Kursk region and the massive amount of artillery shells, drones and ballistic missiles provided to Russia for its war of aggression in Ukraine was a significant development that surprised many of the pundits who viewed North Korea as a distraction, confined to the Korean Peninsula."
"Indeed, Mr. Kim's presence in Beijing for the 80th anniversary of World War II Victory Day celebrations, standing next to Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mr. Putin was testimony to China's decision that North Korea cannot be ignored and a close alliance with North Korea is in China's interest. And certainly, last Friday's and gala in Pyongyang on the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ruling Korean Workers' Party was an emboldened Mr. Kim announcing to the world that North Korea has arrived and can not be ignored. In the presence of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Vietnam's Communist Party Chief To Lam and others, Kim made it clear when he said North Korea "was a faithful member of Socialist forces... and a bulwark for independence... against the West's global hegemony.""
"Doubling down, North Korea at the military parade introduced their new Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, the , a solid fuel massive missile capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads and capable of targeting the whole of the U.S. Other weaponry, to include hypersonic and cruise missiles also were on display, making it clear that Mr. Kim was serious when he said North Korea would enhance its nu"
Kim Jong Un has positioned North Korea as a consequential international actor by deepening partnerships with Russia and China and expanding military capabilities. A mutual defense treaty with Russia coincided with deployment of 15,000 North Korean troops to assist Russian forces in the Kursk region and transfers of artillery shells, drones and ballistic missiles for the war in Ukraine. Kim's presence beside Xi and Putin in Beijing and an elaborate 80th‑anniversary celebration in Pyongyang signaled closer alignment with regional powers. North Korea displayed a new solid‑fuel intercontinental missile and advanced hypersonic and cruise missiles, indicating an intensified nuclear and missile program.
Read at The Cipher Brief
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