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2018 opened up strategic space for North Korea with strong
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support from China.

• Strengthening authoritarian solidarity: While immediate
attention is focused on North Korea and Russia’s
transactions today, North Korea and China will occupy
an increasingly important position in the authoritarian
network. This is especially true given that the Ukraine
war has clearly divided the international community.
China’s centrality in the authoritarian network is growing.
Additionally, North Korea is enhancing its position by
providing weapons and tactics amidst ongoing wars in
Ukraine and the Middle East.

• Hacking and cybercrime: China and North Korea have
long been involved in cyberattacks against South Korea,
the United States, Japan, and other countries. But, beyond
hacking and cybercrime for financial gain, state-level
cyberattacks are becoming more common. While questions
about attribution and government involvement persist,
China and North Korea’s cyberattacks appear to be part
of political psychological warfare and cognitive warfare,
18
particularly since they are seriously harming even Russia
and are predicted to disrupt the U.S. and South Korea’s
2024 elections while also trying to steal military secrets.

17 Mercy A. Kuo, “China, Russia, and US Sanctions on North Korea,” The Diplomat (November 13, 2018), https://
thediplomat.com/2018/11/china-russia-and-us-sanctions-on-north-korea/.
18 James Pearson and Christopher Bing, “North Korean hackers breached top Russian missile maker,” Reuters

(August 7, 2023), https://www.reuters.com/technology/north-korean-hackers-breached-top-russian-missile-
maker-2023-08-07/.

Chapter Two : North Korea’s Nuclear Threat and China’s Backing for North Korea 37