Russia’s Friendship with North Korea
October 25, 2006
Boomerang reports that Russia is pursuing a railway project that would link Russia and North Korea. Russia’s state-run railway monopoly is building a railway (that will be linked to the Trans-Siberian) that will cross the Russia-North Korea border, asserting Russian influence in North Korea. This project was originally conceived in 2001, when Kim Jong Il visited Russia and traveled on the Trans-Siberian railway.
The railway does not violate Resolution 1718, but it does show a willingness by the Russians to cooperate with the isolationist state. It also goes on to show Russia’s interest in influence in the region. Asia is Russia’s largely untapped market for energy export and this gives Russia a step in the door in terms of having influence in the region.
