The Russia–North Korea Strategic Partnership and Authoritarian Alignment: Implications for the East Asian Security Order

The Russia–North Korea Strategic Partnership and Authoritarian Alignment: Implications for the East Asian Security Order

The shockwaves emanating from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have fundamentally unsettled the peace in Europe, exposing vulnerabilities and forcing geopolitical recalibrations. While much scholarly attention has focused on the conflict’s European dimensions, this paper examines its underexplored implications for East Asia and the burgeoning Russia–North Korea security partnership. Drawing on the existing scholarship on authoritarian alignment, we analyze the evolution of their relationship to uncover the mechanisms by which the two states have forged strategic partnerships that transcend traditional bilateralism. We argue that this partnership not only redefines Russia–North Korea ties but also signals the emergence of a broader alignment involving China and Iran. We contend that this collaboration poses a major challenge to the architecture of post-war East Asian security.