It raises the stakes in the US’ dangerous game of nuclear chicken with Russia in Ukraine, accelerates the US’ “Pivot (back) to Asia”, and could thus trap China and the US in an escalation spiral that moves the New Cold War out of Europe.
Just looking at a map makes it clear why both Russia and China would regard this move as a consolidation of their defensive strategy. It does put North Korea on the front line, but it was there anyway. Thank you for your commentaries, Andrew. I really appreciate their balance and also your understanding of the Russian and Eurasian point of view.
Yes it is a geopolitical game changer. It is a visit of historic proportions. Russia has liberated N. Korea from 78 years or American isolation! N. Korean is now a member of the emerging new world order! Meanwhile in Washington, NYC, London, and Seoul they are wetting their pants with anger and fear.
"it’ll likely trap China and the US in an escalation spiral"
This motivation sounds unlikely, as it would be an unfriendly act towards China on the part of Russia. Russia and China have gone to a lot of trouble to re-affirm their good relations, and for Russia to deliberately spit on that would be self-defeating.
"Putin said the treaty between Russia and North Korea is almost identical to the bilateral pact that previously expired.
"So, there is nothing new here," the president said."
Full text:
HANOI, June 20. /TASS/. Moscow expects that its agreements with Pyongyang will deter the crisis in the Korean Peninsula from escalating into a hot phase, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters.
"The Korean crisis is a simmering crisis. But we assume and hope that our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will serve as a deterrent to a certain extent to prevent this crisis from escalating into a hot phase," he said.
Putin said the treaty between Russia and North Korea is almost identical to the bilateral pact that previously expired.
"So, there is nothing new here," the president said.
When asked why North Korean leader Kim Jong Un decided to sign the treaty when an "undeclared war is being waged against Russia," Putin replied: "You ask him that.""
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I have not seen in mentioned in a single article outside of Tass. If true, it certainly dispels the notion that the cooperation is based on more recent events. Incidentally, I've seen a number of comments indicating skepticism of the effectiveness of North Korean weapons. If they prove ineffective, Russia is not going to place a second order for the same hardware.
After WW2, the Americans and British starting making military moves and trouble for the Soviets in Berlin which the Soviets could not handle. To remove that pressure, they started the Korean War. That did the job.
Just looking at a map makes it clear why both Russia and China would regard this move as a consolidation of their defensive strategy. It does put North Korea on the front line, but it was there anyway. Thank you for your commentaries, Andrew. I really appreciate their balance and also your understanding of the Russian and Eurasian point of view.
Yes it is a geopolitical game changer. It is a visit of historic proportions. Russia has liberated N. Korea from 78 years or American isolation! N. Korean is now a member of the emerging new world order! Meanwhile in Washington, NYC, London, and Seoul they are wetting their pants with anger and fear.
"it’ll likely trap China and the US in an escalation spiral"
This motivation sounds unlikely, as it would be an unfriendly act towards China on the part of Russia. Russia and China have gone to a lot of trouble to re-affirm their good relations, and for Russia to deliberately spit on that would be self-defeating.
"Putin said the treaty between Russia and North Korea is almost identical to the bilateral pact that previously expired.
"So, there is nothing new here," the president said."
Full text:
HANOI, June 20. /TASS/. Moscow expects that its agreements with Pyongyang will deter the crisis in the Korean Peninsula from escalating into a hot phase, Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters.
"The Korean crisis is a simmering crisis. But we assume and hope that our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea will serve as a deterrent to a certain extent to prevent this crisis from escalating into a hot phase," he said.
Putin said the treaty between Russia and North Korea is almost identical to the bilateral pact that previously expired.
"So, there is nothing new here," the president said.
When asked why North Korean leader Kim Jong Un decided to sign the treaty when an "undeclared war is being waged against Russia," Putin replied: "You ask him that.""
https://tass.com/politics/1806207
Does anyone have any thoughts on this? I have not seen in mentioned in a single article outside of Tass. If true, it certainly dispels the notion that the cooperation is based on more recent events. Incidentally, I've seen a number of comments indicating skepticism of the effectiveness of North Korean weapons. If they prove ineffective, Russia is not going to place a second order for the same hardware.
After WW2, the Americans and British starting making military moves and trouble for the Soviets in Berlin which the Soviets could not handle. To remove that pressure, they started the Korean War. That did the job.