How is the intensifying partnership between North Korea (DPRK) and Russia reshaping regional and global security dynamics? And why should Europe pay closer attention to this rapidly evolving relationship? On Friday 12 December (16:00-17:00), we welcome Elena Guido, researcher at the Leiden Asia Centre, to present the report on the growing strategic cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow she co-authored with Eric Zhang and Christopher Green.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the DPRK has expanded its military and diplomatic engagement with Russia through arms transfers, raw material exchanges that violate UN sanctions, and increased military-technical cooperation. These developments culminated in the signing of a ‘comprehensive strategic partnership’ treaty, featuring mutual military assistance provisions and deeper institutionalized cooperation.
For Europe, these shifts carry direct relevance:
- The alliance creates new pathways for sanctions evasion;
- It introduces North Korean weaponry into the European theatre;
- It adds complexity to NATO’s engagement with Indo-Pacific partners.
Future dynamics—shaped by China’s strategic calculations and potential shifts in U.S. policy—underscore the need for timely analysis within EU policymaking circles.
In this session, Guido will discuss the key findings of her research project on DPRK–Russia military-technical cooperation during the Ukraine war. She will explore Pyongyang’s evolving foreign policy goals, China’s role in the emerging triangular relationship, and how these developments may influence broader global security trends.
It is an opportunity to gain deeper insight into a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape, ask questions, and reflect on what these developments mean for Europe.
