BIZARRE stories that leak out of North Korea’s fortress of secrecy intrigue us — how can a country so backwards sustain itself?
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With an average life expectancy of 69 years old and recent widespread famine, the answer is: not well.
Despite their drive for independence and self-sufficiency, the communist nation’s continued survival might have something to do with their allies, who help keep the regime from collapse.
North Korea’s two largest allies are, famously, China and Russia.
But did you know Pakistan, Bulgaria, Benin, Malaysia and Madagascar (and not to mention Dennis Rodman) are also on his side?
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CHINA AND RUSSIA
North Korea’s relationship with its most influential allies is complicated.
Historically, China and the former Soviet Union supported North Korea during the Korean War and afterwards kept close economic ties. But relations have never been smooth, according to ANU Asian History Professor Tessa Morris-Suzuki.
“Former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung was fiercely nationalistic, and purged political figures who he thought were too close to China or Russia,” she said
This nationalistic approach, Professor Morris-Suzuki added, has continued under the two leaders since.
“China and Russia’s leverage over North Korea is not as great as it sometimes seems to western observers,” she said.
China
North Korea and China’s relationship dates back to 1961, when the communist nations signed a treaty of friendship, co-operation and mutual assistance.
China shares a land border with North Korea and is North Korea’s main trading partner.
Last year, China was responsible for more than 90 per cent of North Korea’s trade, including coal, oil fish, and iron ore imports.
But their friendship is becoming unsteady as China struggles to hold the reins on Kim Jong-un’s budding nuclear arsenal.
China’s principal role is that of a benefactor, and doesn’t necessarily have much influence on its neighbour’s nuclear weapons program.
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In a meeting with foreign ministers in Beijing last year, China’s President Xi Jinping said: “As a close neighbour we will never allow war or chaos on the [Korean] peninsula.”
In February, the global superpower banned imports of coal from North Korea — one of the rogue nation’s most important exports.
And recently announced sanctions on North Korea from the UN Security Council will see a ban on North Korea exporting textiles and importing crude oils, starving the nation of money and resources.
These US-drafted sanctions had backing from China and Russia and are in reaction to North Korea’s recent nuclear bomb test.
Russia
Russia and North Korea share a slim border that acts as a route for supplies, such as fuel.
Like China, Russia is a benefactor of North Korea.
In 2012, Russia agreed to write off the bulk of North Korea’s $11 billion Soviet-era debt. And In 2015, North Korea and Russia declared a year of friendship, deepening their political and economic connections.
Recently, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that imposing tougher sanctions on North Korea would be counter-productive, and threats of military intervention would be a “global catastrophe”.
Speaking after a summit in Xiamen, China, Putin said: “Russia condemns North Korea’s exercises; we consider that they are a provocation ... (But) ramping up military hysteria will lead to nothing good. It could lead to a global catastrophe.
“There’s no other path apart from a peaceful one.”