The Growing Closeness Between Putin And Kim Jong Un Is Causing Concern In China
- 29.09.2026, 17:26
Beijing does not want North Korea to strengthen its military capabilities with Russian technology.
Russia is cooperating more and more closely with North Korea, receiving ammunition, missiles, military personnel, and labor from Pyongyang to support its war against Ukraine. However, Moscow is forced to take into account China’s position, as instability on the Korean Peninsula poses additional risks for China, writes CEPA.
The relationship between Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is largely based on mutual benefit. The Kremlin needs resources for the war, while Pyongyang hopes to receive money, military technology, and the expertise of the Russian army. In 2024, the countries formalized their cooperation with a treaty on comprehensive strategic partnership.
North Korea has already sent military personnel to the Kursk region. However, according to CEPA’s assessment, there is no evidence of North Korean units participating directly in combat operations on Ukrainian territory.
For the Kremlin, the main question is how much assistance it can obtain from the DPRK without causing serious discontent in Beijing. China remains a far more important partner for Moscow, so Russia is likely not interested in transferring its most sensitive military technologies to Pyongyang.
“Moscow’s relations with Pyongyang are extremely pragmatic in nature,” notes CEPA.
At the same time, attempts to establish a full-fledged Russia–China–DPRK triangle have so far yielded no results. According to the think tank, Beijing and Pyongyang have rejected Moscow’s proposals for closer trilateral cooperation.
China has no interest in strengthening North Korea’s military power. Strengthening the DPRK’s military, especially through Russian missile and nuclear technologies, could heighten tensions in the region and provoke the U.S. and its allies to respond by bolstering their own capabilities. For Beijing, this creates new risks right on its borders.
Against this backdrop, the Kremlin is trying to simultaneously secure military assistance from Kim Jong-un while preventing a situation that would force China to distance itself from Russia.
In September, Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Putin once again publicly reaffirmed their close relations with Pyongyang, but Beijing separately emphasized that strengthening ties with North Korea must be consistent with its vision of stability in the region.