Summary

North Korea is sending thousands of soldiers to support Russia in the Ukraine war, expecting compensation of $200 million annually. In return, Russia is providing North Korea with rice, advanced space technology, and potential military assistance in the event of a contingency on the Korean Peninsula.

Despite the the National Intelligence Service’s assessment that the costs outweigh the benefits, experts believe North Korea is securing a strategic advantage by aligning itself with Russia.

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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    1 day ago

    Well at least it’s not nuke or nuke delivery stuff. That’s what I was worried about.

    They grow rice in Russia?

    The Krasnodar region accounts for around 73% of Russian rice output.

    That’s next to the black sea.

      • CmdrShepard42@lemm.ee
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        1 day ago

        I doubt Russia would want that since NK is unstable and can easily point those weapons back at them at some point in the future.

        • dlatch@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          Russian decisions over the past few years haven’t exactly shown much long-term strategic choices or forethought, so I doubt this is an argument for them

      • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works
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        1 day ago

        Their recent launches have been using field Russia more commonly uses, so they might be getting Russian engines.

      • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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        15 hours ago

        Could be satellites for intelligence and all the tech that goes on it. Not the easiest stuff to develop or manufacture. If I’m Russia I would protect the family jewels (nuke and nuke delivery). If NK got rice out of the deal they’re probably not jumping straight to ICBM tech.

        • solrize@lemmy.world
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          1 day ago

          NK already has missile tech, just not clear whether it has real intercontinental range. The US and Russia did that in the 1950s though.

    • ThePyroPython@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      I’ve got bad news for you bud about what was originally placed on those Russian rockets before Sputnik, Lyka, and Gagarin.

      • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.world
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        1 day ago

        “Ask for” well no shit NK wants and will ask for it. Anyone can figure that out. Gonna need more than the literal “speculation” the article says. Like I answered to the other guy, space tech is pretty broad these days.