Opinion | Russia has likely proposed North Korea to join three-way drills with China

By Augustus K. Yeung

INTRODUCTION

Should China take part in joint naval drills with Russia and N. Korea?

The Ukraine conflict is now looking like a protracted war; the news that Russia is urging North Korea to join a three-way navy drill with China is not groundless. The American sanctions against North Korea also offer a great incentive for Kim to join Russia and China for joint drills, hoping to emerge victorious from America's prolonged diplomatic isolation.

China, too, faces pressures from the U.S., which has been organizing joint naval drills with the Philippines, and now with Australia ostensibly to send a "message to China". The temptation to form joint drills with Russia and North Korea is there.

But then China would be sending a message to the United States that it is starting to take sides with North Korea, a "rogue" nation and Russia, an invader of Ukraine.

Would the United States and the European Union be pleased to realize that China is ganging up with North Korea and Russia, the "axis of evil"?

Militarily, being in joint naval drills with North Korea and Russia will politically put China in an unfavorable situation. China has stuck its neck out as a professed mediator for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Taking part in joint drills will put China into a U.S. trap and risk being demonized – as demonization often precedes war.

Joining Russia and North Korea in a naval drill may tarnish China's image as a global business partner and regional conflict mediator between Saudi Arabia and Iran. With the expansion of BRICS, China's stock value is on the daily rise.

Kim Jong-un Invited Shoigu to a Major Military Parade, Vowing to Expand Military Cooperation with Moscow

Russia has likely proposed that North Korea participate in three-way naval exercises with China, according to a lawmaker who attended a closed-door briefing with the director of South Korea's top spy agency.

The briefing came days after Russia's Ambassador to North Korea, Alexander Matsegora told Russian media that including North Korea in joint military drills – between Russia and China "seems appropriate." Matsegora added it was his own point of view and that he wasn't aware of any preparations.

According to lawmaker Yoo Sang-burn, when South Korean National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyou-hyun was asked about the possibility of such drills, he said Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu likely proposed holding trilateral naval exercises with North Korea and China while meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in July.

Kim Jong-un invited Shoigu to a major military parade in Pyongyang in July while vowing to expand military cooperation with Moscow, which U.S. officials say could involve North Korean supplies of artillery and other ammunition – as Russian President Vladimir Putin reaches out to other countries for support in his war against Ukraine. Recently the White House said Kim and Putin exchanged letters – as Moscow looked to Pyongyang for more munitions.

Kim Jong-un has been Trying to Boost Partnerships…and to Break out of Diplomatic Isolation…

Amid deepening nuclear tensions with Washington, Seoul and Tokyo, Kim Jong-un has been trying to boost the visibility of his partnerships with Moscow and Beijing – as he seeks to break out of diplomatic isolation – and have Pyongyang be a part of a united front against the United States.

Note: Diplomacy between Pyongyang and Washington has stalled since 2019 over disagreements over the crippling U.S.-led sanctions against North's faltered steps to wind down its nuclear weapons and missiles program.

In the briefing, the service director Kim Kyou-hyun also said that North Korea's recent testing activities suggest its warplanes were highly reliant on its tactical nuclear systems as its aims to achieve swift victory over the South if war breaks out, as its otherwise ill-equipped military would struggle to handle a prolonged war, according to lawmaker Yoo.

Kim has used the international focus on Russia's war on Ukraine – to dial up his weapons demonstrations, which have included more than 100 missile launches since the start of 2022. Kim's testing spree has been punctuated by verbal threats of pre-emptive nuclear attacks against South Korea and other rivals if the North perceives its leadership as under threat. (Source: MDT/AP)

CONCLUSION

North Korea is too hot to handle, and Russia is too bloody. Should China take part in joint drills given the recent efforts to reset the U.S.-China relations?

The top Chinese official in charge of economic relations with Washington has told Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo that he was "ready to make new positive efforts" to improve cooperation following an agreement to reduce trade tension…

This agreement was the most substantial result to date – out of a string of visits by American officials to Beijing over the last three months to revive relations that are at their lowest level in decades. Both sides express optimism about better communication – although neither side has given a sign it is ready to compromise on disputes about technology, security, human rights and other irritants.

Vice Premier He Lifeng sounded an optimistic note, referring to "in-depth exchanges" in July with his American counterpart, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

"I'm ready to work based on that with you, to make new positive efforts to deepen our consensus and extend our cooperation," He also told Raimondo in Beijing.

Meeting later with Raimondo, Premier Li Qiang, too, expressed hope for "concrete actions" by Washington…

"We do hope the U.S. side will work in the same direction as China, show sincerity and take concrete actions to maintain and further develop bilateral relations," Li told Raimondo.

"While we'll never of course compromise in protecting our national security – I want to be clear that we do not seek to decouple or to hold China's economy back," Raimondo pledged.

Given these great efforts and the recent promising diplomatic prospects, would Beijing risk damaging its bilateral relations with Washington – in exchange for joint drills with Russia and North Korea? U.S. sincerity matters!

 

The views do not necessarily reflect those of DotDotNews.

To contact the writer, please direct email: AugustusKYeung@ymail.com

Read more articles by Augustus K. Yeung:

Opinion | Amid fog of war, is China America's 'friend or foe'?

Opinion | Will BRICS+ be adopting an anti-US attitude under the influence of China