This presentation analyzes the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea, with particular attention to how the 2024 “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” reshapes Pyongyang’s calculations of regime survival, deterrence, and diplomatic maneuvering. The treaty institutionalizes wartime interdependence: North Korea supplies munitions to sustain Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Moscow provides energy, food, technology transfers, and diplomatic protection. This arrangement reduces Pyongyang’s vulnerability to sanctions and strengthens its bargaining power in an increasingly polarized international order. In the era of the Trump Administration, U.S. foreign policy has been marked by a highly transactional approach and skepticism toward traditional alliances. This has created uncertainty in Northeast Asia, encouraging Moscow and Pyongyang to test new alignments. Although China remains an important backdrop, the Russia–DPRK axis demonstrates that North Korea can now diversify its survival strategies beyond reliance on Beijing alone. The paper argues that Russia’s support empowers Pyongyang to pursue a more confident deterrence posture, validated by lessons drawn from Russia’s military practices in Ukraine. At the same time, the diplomatic shield provided by Moscow allows North Korea to escalate provocations—missile launches, cyber operations, and nuclear signaling—while anticipating reduced costs from international backlash. Ultimately, the Russia–DPRK relationship represents more than tactical cooperation: it is a recalibration of Pyongyang’s long-standing survival playbook. By embedding itself in Russia’s wartime economy, North Korea strengthens its resilience and complicates U.S.–ROK–Japan strategies, underscoring the need for rethinking deterrence and diplomacy in Northeast Asia.

Authors:
Maorong Jiang, Creighton University, United States

About the Presenter(s)
At Creighton University, Dr. Jiang has actively contributed to academic and cultural exchange programs. He participated in the “Building a Multi-Layered Network of Influential Figures” program hosted by Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Additional website of interest
https://www.creighton.edu/geo/asianworldcenter/aboutawc

See this presentation on the full schedule – Sunday Schedule

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