Page 193 - Trilateral Korea Japan U.S. Cooperation

new military cooperation between these longtime neighbors,
including the provision of over 3 million rounds of ammunition
for Russia’s war in Ukraine as well as several dozen ballistic
missiles that have been used against innocent Ukrainians.
Kim’s six-day sojourn to Russia highlighted the things he
wants in return for being the munitions depot for Putin. Kim
toured Russian jet fighters, rockets, strategic bombers, and
guided missile frigates. The Korean Central News Agency
(KCNA) reported that Kim is also reviewing the North’s
aspirations for nuclear submarines. Just when you thought
the situation with North Korea could not get any worse, it has
with the consummation of this unholy alliance.

It is not new in the sense that there has always been
cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow historically, but
there are a few elements that are new. First, the North Korean
leader arguably has leverage in this relationship for the first
time in recent memory. In the past, North Korea was always
the supplicant, asking for patron prices for Russian energy
and debt relief. Now, Putin needs North Korean supplies
of ammunition and other lethal equipment to prosecute his
unjust war in Ukraine.

Second, the Kim-Putin summit reduces Kim’s need to talk
to the U.S. The Biden administration, despite numerous
attempts, has had no success in engaging the North Koreans
in disarmament dialogue. The prospects are even less likely
now. Indeed, part of the reason for Kim’s engagement with
Putin is because of the spectacular failure of the previous
U.S. administration’s summit diplomacy with North Korea.
The abrupt end to the U.S.-North Korea summit meeting in

Chapter Eleven : The Meaning of Camp David and the New Unholy Alliance 193