EU warns North Korea-Russia military partnership will likely outlast Ukraine war
A senior EU official said the strategic ties between North Korea and Russia are structural and expected to continue after the Ukraine conflict ends.
During the Seoul Defense Dialogue, Cosmin Dobran of the European External Action Service described the North Korea-Russia relationship as a structural partnership that will likely survive the end of the Ukraine war. He referred to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed by Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin, under which North Korean forces and conventional weapons have supported Russia’s campaign. Dobran said the presence of North Korean soldiers in Ukraine is a proven fact and warned that additional troop deployments could follow the same pattern.
He pointed to EU and G7 sanctions that have curtailed Russia’s shadow fleet as evidence of the measures’ effectiveness. The EU official also urged deeper security and information-sharing ties with South Korea, noting ongoing negotiations for a bilateral information-security pact and the need for coordinated action to protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
