New York – Russian President Vladimir Putin, isolated from Western countries due to the Ukraine war, is now relying on communist countries. He has sought cooperation from China, North Korea and Vietnam.
Both Russia and North Korea have nuclear weapons. Although North Korea is much smaller in terms of area than Russia, it has a large stockpile of nuclear weapons. Both countries are under severe international sanctions and are isolated from the West. That is why Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un have increased their proximity by identifying themselves as alternative powers.
President Putin visited North Korea for the first time in 24 years (June 19-20).
Russia and North Korea have agreed to send military aid immediately in the event of an armed attack on either of them. During the visit, President Putin and Supreme Leader Kim signed an agreement that revives the Cold War-era mutual defense treaty. With this agreement, if anyone attacks North Korea or Russia, both countries will respond by sending military aid. This agreement with North Korea has given Russia a big relief.
“If either country is attacked or goes to war, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, the other country will use all available means to provide immediate military and other assistance,” Article 4 of the agreement signed by Putin and Kim states. Article 51 of the United Nations Charter gives any member state the right to act in self-defense, individually or collectively. This agreement was reached between Russia and North Korea based on Article 51 of this charter.
Along with his visit to North Korea, President Putin also visited another communist country, Vietnam (June 20-21) to improve relations and renew friendship. This tour has also given him more strength. Talks with Vietnam’s Communist leaders have also emboldened Putin. Like North Korea, Vietnam has supported Russia in its war with Ukraine.
The war between Russia and Ukraine started on February 24, 2022. Russia, which launched an attack in accordance with the strategy of occupying the entire Ukraine in 72 hours, was unable to reach the immediate target, and the war was prolonged. Ukraine asked for help from the West saying that it cannot fight the war alone. Ukraine, which has reached the stage of surrender two months after the start of the war, has been given the strength to continue the war with the help of Western countries. Ukraine did not retreat from the war front as it gradually received arms, ammunition, bombs and missiles as well as financial support. Now this war has become a matter of great prestige for both sides.
Western countries have analyzed that if Russia cannot be defeated, Ukraine will not only merge with Russia, but the security of the whole of Europe and America will be in danger. That is why Western countries are trying to conquer Ukraine anyway. Britain and the US have given Ukraine permission to use their weapons against Russia. As a result, the possibility of an immediate end to the Russia-Ukraine war is becoming less likely.
The West continues its efforts to weaken and defeat North Korea and Russia through international sanctions. But both countries have not retreated despite the imposition of international embargo.
President Putin has warned that he will use nuclear weapons if Russia is attacked. Putin’s stance and boldness that the international embargo imposed on North Korea for developing nuclear weapons should be lifted has also brought great relief to Supreme Leader Kim.
Nine months after Supreme Leader Kim visited Russia, President Putin visited North Korea. Before that, Kim visited Russia in April 2019.
North Korea had the help and support of the then Soviet Union, but it was not given as much importance as it is now. No Soviet head of government at that time visited North Korea. After Japan’s occupation of Korea surrendered at the end of World War II, Korea was divided. Communist rule prevailed in North Korea and capitalist rule prevailed in South Korea. North Korea was supported by the Soviet Union and South Korea by the United States. Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, invaded South Korea in 1950 with the help of the Soviet Union to unify and form a communist Korea, and the Korean War broke out. In this war that lasted for three years, 2.5 million people died and physical structures were destroyed.
The Soviet Union only supplied weapons to North Korea, not directly fighting the war. America fought for South Korea by sending troops. In 1953, an armistice was signed between the two Koreas. The war stopped, but South Korea has not signed a peace treaty, so technically the two Koreas are still at war.
North Korea managed to capture the world’s attention when it became powerful in 2006 by developing nuclear weapons. In 2018, the then US President Donald Trump and North Korea’s Supreme Leader Kim held a summit in Singapore. With these talks, the US softened somewhat towards North Korea, but the embargo still remains.
Russia now attaches great importance to North Korea. North Korea has become very powerful in military force. US troops are stationed in both countries to protect South Korea and Japan. If there is no US military, North Korea can attack both countries at any time.
The US is concerned that the growing proximity between China, North Korea, Vietnam and Russia will weaken its influence in Southeast Asia. In order not to overtake China, which has become an economic and military power, the US wants to avoid increasing its proximity to Russia and North Korea. Russia will not remain silent if American and British weapons are used against Russia while standing by Ukraine and causing damage to Russian soil. Russia has already given such a warning. In that case, Russia could use nuclear weapons, which could cause catastrophic and unimaginable human casualties.
Now, if this ongoing war does not come to an end and the weapons of Britain and America are used against Russia, it will not only lead to a regional war but also to a third world war, which will be unfortunate for the world. With that being the case, America would be wise to take action to end this war.
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