As global attention remains focused on conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, the Korean Peninsula's strategic importance is rising once again, particularly as North Korea becomes a key partner for Russia amid tensions with the West. North Korea’s role extends beyond symbolic support, with military backing, including troops sent to the Ukrainian border, reinforcing its value to Moscow in the new Cold War dynamics. Despite facing severe domestic challenges like economic hardship and resource shortages, Pyongyang stabilizes its regime through alliances with Russia and China, rooted in pragmatism rather than shared ideology. This partnership gives North Korea security guarantees and economic support while bolstering its strategic position reminiscent of the 1950s. However, as highlighted by Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Frank, the regime’s stability remains fragile, likened to an old oak tree hollowed out by internal decay, susceptible to collapse under strain. With shifting global power dynamics, including Donald Trump’s potential return to office, North Korea’s unpredictable role in the geopolitical landscape will continue to influence the balance of power between global superpowers.

Click HERE to listen to the full podcast (in German).