![Putin, Kim and the alliances threatening global stability](https://cdn.magzter.com/1591272633/1719114593/articles/uAQ-zJRm-1719136544398/PUTIN-KIM-AND-THE-ALLIANCES-THREATENING-GLOBAL-STABILITY.jpg)
North Korea is not one’s usual pit stop between Russia and Vietnam, but for Vladimir Putin, it was too good an opportunity to miss. Reaffirming Russia’s relations with its allies of old, Putin’s diplomatic mission to Pyongyang and then Hanoi offered an occasion, firstly, to garner support for his ongoing war in Ukraine at a time when Russia has few international friends.
What is more, both visits aimed to send a clear signal to the United States, its allies, and the West, that no matter what Western leaders say, Russia will do all it can to cause trouble in international relations.
Putin’s visit to Hanoi, after spending two days in North Korea, has more than a hint of irony. It was in Hanoi, five years ago, when the notorious presidential summit between Kim Jong-un and then US president Donald Trump – their second in under two years – ended without a deal. The two leaders did not even manage to have lunch. Since then, North Korea has only increased its delinquent behaviour, which reached new heights with this week’s visit by Putin.
The North Korean leader pulled out all the stops for his Russian counterpart. The streets of Pyongyang were lined not just with Russian flags and cheering crowds, but also with portraits of Putin himself. Bizarrely, it was almost as if Putin were the North Korean leader, ready to be lauded and adored by the North Korean population.
It is well known that ever since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Putin has provided North Korea with substantial food assistance and cash in exchange for millions of rounds of North Korean artillery.
The exchange of high-level military technology, not least missiles and satellites, has also taken place between the two rogue states, although concerningly, the true extent of this cooperation remains less well known. The two countries signed a mutual defence pact this week, highlighting how such military cooperation looks set to continue.
Denne historien er fra June 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra June 23, 2024-utgaven av The Independent.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![How Blade: Trinity became Marvel's biggest disaster](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/GIG5ECrts1722147218955/HOW-BLADE-TRINITY-BECAME-MARVELS-BIGGEST-DISASTER.jpg)
How Blade: Trinity became Marvel's biggest disaster
As 'Deadpool & Wolverine' pokes fun at the the pre-MCU era of comic book movies, Adam White explores the tortured production of the final Blade film - from an allegation of strangulation to the long-lasting feud between its stars
![Smith denied maiden Test century in exciting match](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/hzAhUF-1d1722147020336/SMITH-DENIED-MAIDEN-TEST-CENTURY-IN-EXCITING-MATCH.jpg)
Smith denied maiden Test century in exciting match
Jamie Smith came within touching distance of a first Test century at Edgbaston to help set England on course for a clean sweep in their series against the West Indies.
![Peaty faces tough rival for third successive gold medal](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/3Ip2taz-c1722146694558/PEATY-FACES-TOUGH-RIVAL-FOR-THIRD-SUCCESSIVE-GOLD-MEDAL.jpg)
Peaty faces tough rival for third successive gold medal
Adam Peaty gave a simple message before the latest step of his 100m breaststroke defence: bring the A-Game. And although not yet looking the same force as three years ago, the Olympic champion remains the one to beat as he cruised into tonight's final in Paris. A shot at history now awaits, as Peaty bids to become only the second male swimmer after Michael Phelps to win the same event at three successive Olympics.
![Henderson wins time trial cycling silver despite deluge](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/o6OQWdVwA1722146564074/HENDERSON-WINS-TIME-TRIAL-CYCLING-SILVER-DESPITE-DELUGE.jpg)
Henderson wins time trial cycling silver despite deluge
Anna Henderson powered to a stunning silver in a Parisian deluge yesterday just two months after she feared her Olympic dreams might be over.
![Far-right Orban claims EU is at risk of 'self-destruction'](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/hqtO7KbjB1722146431182/FARRIGHT-ORBAN-CLAIMS-EU-IS-AT-RISK-OF-SELFDESTRUCTION.jpg)
Far-right Orban claims EU is at risk of 'self-destruction'
Viktor Orban has claimed the European Union is sliding toward oblivion, in a rambling anti-Western speech in which he warned of a new, Asia-oriented \"world order\". Hungary's nationalist prime minister also expressed support for Donald Trump's presidential bid.
![Lammy urged to halt Cuba aid as its troops help Putin](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/puPMD-Y6X1722146297540/LAMMY-URGED-TO-HALT-CUBA-AID-AS-ITS-TROOPS-HELP-PUTIN.jpg)
Lammy urged to halt Cuba aid as its troops help Putin
US congressman calls support 'ludicrous' due to Ukraine war
![Israeli airstrike kills 'at least 30' at a school in Gaza](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/vFtMLsJCH1722146176046/ISRAELI-AIRSTRIKE-KILLS-AT-LEAST-30-AT-A-SCHOOL-IN-GAZA.jpg)
Israeli airstrike kills 'at least 30' at a school in Gaza
Military claims it had targeted a Hamas command centre
![Paedophile who threw boy off 100ft cliff is jailed for life](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/0wZ6MjRCZ1722146086744/PAEDOPHILE-WHO-THREW-BOY-OFF-100FT-CLIFF-IS-JAILED-FOR-LIFE.jpg)
Paedophile who threw boy off 100ft cliff is jailed for life
A paedophile who pushed a boy off a 100ft cliff to prevent him from revealing that he had raped a young girl has been jailed. Anthony Stocks launched a calculated plan to kill the 10-year-old by taking him to a set of cliffs at Ovingdean, near Brighton, in September 2022, leaving his victim with lifelong injuries.
![New footage shows chaos before man kicked in head](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/t-Kj_p8XP1722145995414/NEW-FOOTAGE-SHOWS-CHAOS-BEFORE-MAN-KICKED-IN-HEAD.jpg)
New footage shows chaos before man kicked in head
New video footage has emerged showing the run-up to a now-viral scene from Manchester airport in which a police officer kicks a man in the head.
![The 7,000-calorie diet and killer training that wins gold](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/22095/1780537/LWJDxa2bN1722145853385/THE-7000CALORIE-DIET-AND-KILLER-TRAINING-THAT-WINS-GOLD.jpg)
The 7,000-calorie diet and killer training that wins gold
Great Britain's 200m freestyle Olympic champion Tom Dean takes Jack Rathborn through his extraordinary daily regime