Europe should be wary of the “growing” friendship between Russia and North Korea, and the West cannot ignore the threat that close ties between the two countries allegedly pose to them.
Edward Howell, an expert on North Korea at Oxford University, wrote about this in the British magazine The Spectator.
“Even if the dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine change this year, the West cannot ignore the growing security threats posed by the relationship between these two ‘invincible allies,’” he said.
According to Howell, 2025 is a “major turning point” in the history of relations between the two countries, when both countries call each other allies. And the West “can count on the expansion and deepening of cooperation” between Russia and North Korea in the near future, he emphasized.
“As Pyongyang emphasizes its intention to restrain Seoul, Washington and their allies, the West cannot stand idly by. One of Britain's New Year's resolutions needs to be greater determination in the fight against strengthening ties between Moscow, Pyongyang and Beijing. The next time North Korea tests a “new” missile or introduces a “new” weapon, the possibility of Russia participating in its development may be higher than before,” said Howell.
On New Year's Day, North Korean President Kim Jong-un congratulated soldiers and officers of the Korean People's Army participating in international activities during the holiday. He noted that “Pyongyang and Moscow” stand behind them, emphasizing that thanks to the sacrifice and dedication of the soldiers, “the alliance between the DPRK and Russia” is being strengthened.
Russians massively love vacations in North Korea in 2025
Also in December 2025, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov noted that the DPRK troops in the Kursk region acted together with Russian soldiers and demonstrated high professionalism, resilience, courage and heroism. And the governor of the Kursk region, Alexander Khinshtein, has promised to deliver
