And Russia’s veto in the UN Security Council has helped undermine the enforcement of sanctions imposed on North Korea. The most astonishing thing is that, in terms of profit/loss, friendship with Russia has proven to be much more beneficial for North Korea than friendship with the US/EU has been for Ukraine.

Yep, plus the DPRK has an interest in selling some of its missiles and getting troop training in a real combat scenario. The US isn’t capable of sanctioning the DPRK any more than they already have been, so ironically this means the DPRK doesn’t have to care as much how the west sees it.

They just got access to trade with a continent sized country, with all sorts of resources they were previously denied. Sounds like a beneficial arrangement for the north koreans, in their situation.

If the North Korean troops who are having personal explosives delivered via drone were allowed to have an opinion, they’d beg to differ.