Lankov about why the DPRK recognized the DPR

The participant of our project “After” Orientalist Andrei Lankov published in the “profile” the column “Friendship of the Peoples” - on the recognition of Pyongyang the sovereignty of the LPR and the DPR.

“The current foreign policy of Russia causes both understanding and sympathy in Pyongyang. Although with the North Korean "anti -Americanism" things are not as simple as it may seem at first glance, the countries that challenge the US hegemony are perceived in North Korea as allies or at least partners. < ... >

... The ideology in the DPRK policy has not played a special role for a long time. Pyongyan’s policy is extremely pragmatic - they think exclusively about their interests. And it doesn’t matter what official rhetoric is used.

The recognition of the DPR and the LPR corresponds to the national interests of the DPRK and completely fits into the logic used by Pyongyang in relations with Moscow.

Currently, the DPRK in economic terms greatly depends on Beijing, which, with the beginning of the American-Chinese confrontation, actually took this country for maintenance. < ... >

However, the leadership of North Korea prefers not to put all eggs in one basket: Chinese patronage is well complemented by Russian protection.

It seems that the DPRK does not seem to have no special hopes for trade and economic cooperation with Russia. Russia has less money than China, and most importantly - Moscow has much less desire to spend them on sponsoring the DPRK. < ... >

However, the main reason why North Korea recognized the LPR and the DPR has nothing to do with the economy. Pyongyang expects that Russia will appreciate his diplomatic gestures. Most of these gestures of North Korea cost nothing, but the likely retaliatory steps of Russia can bring material benefits. < ... >

The DPRK leadership is quite justified: now, as a response gesture, representatives of Russia at the UN and other international organizations will vote against the resolutions harmful to the North Korean. In particular, Russian diplomats will be vested with the solutions of the UN Security Council, which can create problems for the DPRK - primarily a resolution on the introduction of additional sanctions against North Korea. ”