What's happened
Recent investigations reveal North Korea's increasing military and economic partnership with Russia, including oil shipments and troop deployments. Satellite imagery shows North Korean tankers visiting Russia's Vostochny port over 40 times since March, defying UN sanctions. This cooperation raises concerns among the US, Ukraine, and South Korea amid ongoing conflicts.
Why it matters
What the papers say
The Independent reports that North Korean oil tankers have made over 40 trips to Russia's Vostochny port since March, violating UN sanctions. This trade is part of a broader military partnership, with South Korean officials alleging that Russia has supplied air defense missiles to North Korea in exchange for military support in Ukraine. Business Insider highlights that these oil shipments are a significant violation of UN sanctions, with estimates suggesting North Korea has received over a million barrels of oil since March. The Open Source Centre's investigation corroborates these findings, indicating a transactional relationship where North Korea provides military aid in exchange for resources.
How we got here
The partnership between North Korea and Russia has intensified following a mutual defense agreement signed in June 2024. This agreement has led to increased military exchanges, including North Korean troops aiding Russia in its war against Ukraine and illicit oil trade circumventing UN sanctions.
More on these topics
-
Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
-
North Korea, officially the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia constituting the northern part of the Korean Peninsula.
-
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, previously holding the position from 1999 until 2008.
-
South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea, is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korean Peninsula and sharing a land border with North Korea.
-
The United Nations Security Council is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, charged with ensuring international peace and security, recommending the admission of new UN members to the General Assembly, and approving any changes to the UN
-
Kim Jong-un is a North Korean politician who has been the supreme leader of North Korea since 2011 and chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea since 2012.
-
The United Nations is an intergovernmental organization that aims to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations.