Why a 5-year defence pact between North Korea and Russia could make China uneasy
Key Points:
- Russia and North Korea are reportedly preparing a five-year military cooperation plan for 2027-2031, aiming to establish sustainable long-term defence collaboration.
- Russian official Belousov confirmed the agreement with North Korea's defence ministry to formalize this extended military partnership.
- The North Korean state media did not explicitly mention the five-year plan but highlighted discussions on strengthening political and military cooperation with Russia.
- Analysts suggest that China may be concerned about this deepening military alliance, as it could accelerate North Korea's military modernization on multiple fronts.