Kim Jong Un Faces Internal Opposition over Growing Alliance with Russia

News Summary

Concerns and worries have been expressed by North Korea's ruling party and military leaders about the nation's growing tie with Russia, according to Daily NK.

Some officials fear that deeper economic and military ties could compromise the country’s independence and strain relations with China. Military leaders worry that reliance on Russian technology might undermine North Korea’s defense sovereignty and disrupt its traditional command structure.

In response, the Kim regime has pledged to balance foreign relations, reassure the military, and emphasize independent weapons development to maintain strategic autonomy.

Commentary

This internal pushback reveals that North Korea's pivot toward Russia is a decision made by Kim Jong Un that has not been fully understood or embraced by his party and military leaders.

Despite his status as a supreme leader with no apparent rivals, it also highlights Kim’s underlying fear of internal resistance that could threaten his regime.

As North Korea continues to face severe economic hardships and radically changed geopolitical landscapes, Kim has little choice but to rely on Russia for economic and military support, which is likely to fuel further discontent within the regime.

Like many dictators in history who have fallen due to radical decisions or reckless gambles, Kim appears to be following a similar trajectory, making it increasingly likely that North Korea’s transformation will begin from the inside out, not the other way around.