Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un signed a pact on Wednesday to pledge mutual aid if either country faces “aggression.”
The Kremlin’s website says the leaders pledged to build a new bridge across the Tumannaya River on their border. They approved another agreement of cooperation in health care, medical education, and science. Putin also says that Russia would not rule out developing military-technical cooperation with North Korea.
Other countries say that military cooperation between the two has already been happening. A U.S. State Department spokesman says that in recent months, Washington has seen North Korea “unlawfully transfer dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to aid Russia’s war effort.”
North Korea blames the United States for Russia’s war in Ukraine. In their talks last week, Putin thanked Kim for North Korea’s support. He says the war is a fight against the “imperialist” policies of the United States. Both Russia and North Korea claim the United States seeks to unjustly control other nations politically and economically.
The United States opposes Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and recognizes the staggering human rights’ violations that happen in North Korea. It sanctions the countries for those actions and other bad behavior.
South Korea’s Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun summoned Russian Ambassador Georgy Zinoviev on Friday. He stressed to Zinoviev that any cooperation that helps the North build up its military capabilities would pose a threat to the South’s security. He warned of consequences for his country’s relations with Moscow. Zinoviev claims Putin’s pact with the North wasn’t aimed at specific third countries.
North Korea isn’t the only ally Russia is courting. Putin visited Vietnam on Thursday. He and President To Lam agreed to further cooperate in education, science and technology, oil and gas exploration, and clean energy. The two countries also agreed to work on a roadmap for a nuclear science and technology center in Vietnam.
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are at their highest point in years. Kim launches missiles in weapons tests. The United States, South Korea, and Japan hold combined military exercises. A tit-for-tat show of military strength dominates the region.
The Koreas also engage in Cold War-style psychological warfare. On Thursday night, South Koreans sent balloons carrying leaflets, South Korean pop songs and TV dramas, and 3,000 U.S. dollar bills over the border to the North. North Korea recently launched more than 1,000 balloons that dropped mounds of trash in South Korea.
At a dinner before he left for Vietnam, Putin cited a proverb that says “a close neighbor is better than a distant relative.” Kim toasted the “immortality” of the North Korean-Russian relations “that are the envy of the world.”
Nations that oppress their citizens and Christ’s church may loudly proclaim their military might and build alliances. But the Bible teaches God is on His throne and will not be mocked.
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? . . . Now therefore, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the Earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. — Psalm 2:1;10-11
