Amid an announcement from North Korea that President Vladimir Putin of Russia has expressed a willingness to visit the country at an as yet unspecified "early date," Kim Jung Un's regime has announced that it will be cooperating with its northern neighbor to establish a "new multi-polarized international order," which is a reference to their efforts to build a united front against the United States.
The cooperation between North Korea and Russia in this regard is hardly surprising. North Korea is one of the few countries openly supporting Russia's war against Ukraine and has perhaps been the most visible in the provision of military support. In exchange, Russia has been acting indirectly in support of North Korea as Kim Jong Un escalates tensions in East Asia, such as by blocking the U.S.-led efforts in the United Nations Security Council to impose greater sanctions against North Korea for their recent weapons tests. Indeed, the divide between Russia and the United States continues to deepen the longer the Russia-Ukraine War continues.
Both North Korea and Russia have expressed concerns over the actions of the United States military and its allies in Asia, which, rather than the rampant, aggression of Kim Jong Un, they hold to be the true cause of escalating tensions in the region as it is a major threat to the sovereignty and security of North Korea.
Indeed, the tensions on the Korean Peninsula are far higher than they have been in years, especially as North Korea has ramped up its production and testing of weapons while striking the possibility of peaceful reunification for their constitution, worked to expand its arsenal of nuclear weapons, and even threatened the existence of South Korea with annihilation. In response the United States, South Korea, and Japan have conducted cooperative military exercises in a show of solidarity against the aggression of the Kim regime.
While it remains to be seen what actions North Korea and Russia will take towards a greater, unified front against the United States and its allies, given their respective actions so far in Asia and in Europe, the international community can expect them to contribute to a further undermining of the international law-based order.