LettersKim Jong-un’s meeting with Vladimir Putin sent a message to both China and West
Readers discuss the implications of the meeting of the leaders of North Korea and Russia, and lessons from history on Russia’s military outcomesChina-Russia relationsLettersPublished: 11:30am, 26 Sep, 2023Why you can trust SCMP
The global split over Ukraine and the prevailing bloc rivalry have emboldened Pyongyang. Given the new anti-West bulwark, Kim seems confident that he can choose either Moscow or Beijing to latch onto.
Having a reliable fallback option apart from China would benefit North Korea. Kim is aware that Pyongyang is critical to Beijing as a vital buffer zone from the West, and Kim now has the leverage to offset Pyongyang’s predominant dependence on Beijing for food and economic aid.