The Putin-Kim buddy act is a real and present danger

North Korea are happy to help Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the fight against 'evil' in the West, writes Kim Sengupta

- Kim Sengupta

Kim Jong-un is not new to striking up sudden friendships with the world’s powerful leaders. There were the memorable times with Donald Trump after the exchange of letters described as “beautiful” by the US president, followed by tender moments in meetings which were supposed to reshape geopolitics.

Nothing much came from the sessions of mutual admiration, apart from a temporary suspension by North Korea of ballistic missile building and deep apprehension from America’s allies in the region that Trump may do a deal with Kim jeopardising their security. That did not materialise in the end, to much relief.

Now Kim has a new bestie, Vladimir Putin, and this presents a clear and present danger to the West and its allies. North Korea is already stepping in to replenish Russia’s exhausted ammunition and missile stock for the Ukraine war. Moscow has been accused of circumventing international sanctions to help Kim develop his military arsenal as well as planning to help his nuclear programme.

Putin and Kim are due to sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership treaty” which, the Russian president said “will build an architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia” and “develop alternative mechanisms of trade and mutual settlements that are not controlled by the West, and jointly resist illegitimate unilateral restrictions”. The North Korean leader has pledged to build “meaningful ties and close comradeship and full solidarity with the Russian army and its people, an unbreakable partnership in all possible areas”.