Pro-Kremlin Media: Closer Ties with North Korea Needed Against the West
In April 2022, the US Treasury sanctioned Russian oligarch Konstantin Malofeyev. In a substantive press release, Treasury called Molofeyev’s pro-Kremlin media outlet Tsargrad the “cornerstone of Malofeyev’s broad malign influence network…it spreads pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation that is amplified by the Government of Russia.”
More recently, Tsargrad has been openly calling for Moscow to shore up ties with Pyongyang to undermine Washington. Such rhetoric has not been particularly common in the Russian media sphere, yet pieces such as this on an outlet affiliated with the Russian state serves as an indication that the question of North Korea and Russia teaming up to counter US influence, particularly in a Northeast Asia where Moscow’s own influence is comparatively weak, is one that cannot be dismissed as fringe in Russian political discourse.
Russia is pushing away an ally capable of helping with victory over the West[1]
Russia surprisingly continues pushing away a geopolitical ally capable of helping us attain victory over the collective West. It’s time to fix our mistakes.
In an increasingly-complex international environment, Moscow does not have very many allies ready to cooperate with it simply because they support our position. Sometimes comes down to Russia needing to help a neighbor, only for them to support sanctions against Russia in return. This has always seemed cynical to us. Yet, as we’ve figured out, we need to make some changes in our own policies.
Russia continues to support sanctions against the DPRK. We recognize UN Resolution 2397. It obligated member states to repatriate North Korean workers and not hire more in the future. It’s understandable why the Americans proposed this resolution. Observing it is not only unfair to North Korea, but also disadvantageous to Russia. The founder of “The First Russian” Konstantin Malofeev is certain that the time has come to withdraw from this strange position:
“Even deputy prime minister Marat Khusnullin has stated that the productivity of Koreans is two- to two-and-half times higher than our own workers, and that they can be a wonderful alternative to guest workers from Central Asia. Besides, North Koreans are not only solid workers, but don’t commit crimes,” as Malofeev himself has stated here on Tsargrad. “If we look at another area of economics – the military-industrial complex. North Korea, with a population of 26 million has one of the largest standing armies in the world and a developed national defense industry.”
The DPRK’s active-duty forces total 6 million people, while 10 million are fit for service. On top of that, the country has nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles which are constantly being improved.
And most importantly, North Korea produces multiple rocket launch systems, a weapon system whose necessity in modern war needs no introduction since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine. They not only produce them, but export them. Multiple rocket launch systems such as the KN-29 are among the best in the world. Why do we refuse the help of an ally?
Original article by Tsargrad.ru. Translated by Anthony V. Rinna.
[1] Source: Russia is pushing away an ally capable of helping with victory over the West [Россия отталкивает союзника, способного помочь в Победе над Западом], Tsargrad.ru, October 9, 2022, https://amp.tsargrad.tv/news/rossija-ottalkivaet-sojuznika-sposobnogo-pomoch-v-pobede-nad-zapadom_641389
