Having last visited Pyongyang in 2000, this rare trip for Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin underscores the burgeoning relationship between Russia and a reclusive, nuclear-armed state. This, of course, is a concern in Washington, and the capitals of other nations.
Russia has maintained good neighborly relations with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for more than seven decades. The Soviet Union helped in its fight for independence and was one of the first to recognize the DPRK and establish diplomatic relationships with it. Russia will continue to cultivate this relationship.
There's a 12% chance that there will be war between North Korea and South Korea before Jan. 1, 2040, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
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