The Workers’ Party of Korea Secretariat has issued an order to high-ranking military officers underscoring the strategic importance of North Korea’s relationships with China and Russia, assigning each country distinct roles in supporting Pyongyang’s economic and military goals.
A high-ranking Daily NK source in the North Korean military said recently that the secretariat’s order was delivered at a meeting of senior officers on the afternoon of Sept. 28. “The order focused on the supreme leadership’s thoughts that connect China and Russia to strengthening our economy and military power,” the source said.
According to the source, the secretariat described China as having greatly helped North Korea remain provisioned amid international sanctions, calling the nation an “important lifeboat for the national economy.” The order explained that strengthening ties with China could ease North Korea’s international isolation and support Pyongyang’s long-term national strategy.
The secretariat also emphasized that, unlike in past years, the relationship between North Korea and Russia had risen to the “highest level of strategic partnership.” It identified Russia as an important military partner, noting that indirectly studying modern warfare experiences through Russia could help modernize North Korea’s warfighting capabilities.
China for economy, Russia for military
Another military source said the person who delivered the secretariat’s order “distinguished between China and Russia when explaining the order to the members of the executive council of the Korean People’s Army’s party committee participating in the meeting, highlighting China as central to economic support and Russia as a partner for modernizing national defense.”
The order’s deliverer said North Korea would cultivate human resources through educational and research exchanges with China and receive tactical and training experience from Russia, as well as knowledge on modern weapon operations.
The meeting highlighted the results of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s summits with Russia and China during his visit to Beijing in early September, and explained how authorities would strategically use relations with both countries going forward.
“Inside the military, there was significant regret that the supreme leader had not included military officials in the delegation that accompanied him to China,” the high-ranking military source said. “So, many believe the secretariat’s precise explanation of the country’s direction through the latest special order was a measure to bolster internal solidarity.”
The other military source said the secretariat “gave a more detailed explanation within the big picture of how important China and Russia are to North Korea in maintaining our economic and military foundations amid international sanctions.” Time will tell “whether the party’s focus on China for easing sanctions and stabilizing trade and on Russia for military cooperation will provide North Korea an exit,” the source added.
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: dailynk.com
