Beijing’s ‘burden’: why North Korea-Russia military ties could become a headache for China
- Washington and regional allies will only strengthen resolve after Pyongyang’s launch of a tactical ‘submarine based on anxiety’, experts say
- North Korea’s Kim Jong-un is visiting Russia this week after Beijing appeared to downplay relations with Pyongyang
Sabre-rattling by North Korea will stiffen Washington’s resolve to forge closer security alliances with Seoul and Tokyo, and become a further “burden”for Beijing, analysts said.
Pyongyang is reportedly planning to sell weapons to Russia, and has recently tested ballistic missiles and launched what it called the country’s first operational “tactical nuclear attack submarine”.
Submarine No 841 – named “Hero Kim Kun-ok” – was launched last Wednesday in an event presided over by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, according to the state news agency Korea Central News Agency (KCNA).
The submarine, which can carry as many as 10 ballistic missiles, will become one of the country’s “core underwater offensive means of the naval force”, Kim said during the ceremony.
“The Party Central Committee decided to make greater leaps forward in the country’s shipbuilding industry to guarantee a new high point in the strengthened naval force,” Kim said.
The ceremony came ahead of the meeting between Kim and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Vostochny Cosmodrome in Amur Oblast in the Russian far east. The visit is Kim’s first trip outside North Korea since April 2019.
According to Russian news agencies, Putin said they would discuss helping Pyongyang build its own satellites, stressing the reason behind the pair’s visit to the spaceport.