Opinion: Lavrov's visit to Pyongyang signals a lot of information

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Editor’s note: The article is based an interview with Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences. The article reflects the expert's opinion, and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is visiting Pyongyang on May 31. According to a statement published by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, Lavrov will hold talks with his counterpart Ri Yong Ho about the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the wider region, as well as the relationship between the two countries.

This is the latest move in Pyongyang's push for diplomatic rapprochement.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov (L) shakes hands with Sin Hong Chol, a vice foreign minister of DPRK, upon his arrival at Pyongyang airport in the DPRK on May 31, 2018. /VCG Photo.

Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Academy of Social Sciences, suggested that the DPRK was keen to foster previously strong relations with Russia – particularly prior to the scheduled historic summit between Trump and Kim Jong Un in Singapore on June 12.

"On the surface, the visit of Sergei Lavrov to DPRK is a return visit, as DPRK Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho had visited Moscow on April 10. Actually, both sides have deep national strategies and interests consideration behind it,” remarked Da.

"For DPRK, it needs to bargain with the United Sates on the issue of denuclearization of the peninsula, and can’t meet all the requirements of the US. Therefore, restoring the friendship with a traditional big power –Russia – will be helpful for the DPRK to negotiate with the US psychologically. Kim Jong Un wants to make sure that both China and Russia are still on his side," said Da.

He added, "The DPRK is closer with Russia in geopolitics and ideology, so it needs Russia as a friend to support itself against the United States to disperse risks. The DPRK has always wanted to get rid of the UN’s economic sanctions to develop economy; as a close neighbor, Russia also plays a very important role in its economic development."

This handout photograph obtained courtesy of the US Department of State shows Kim Yong Chol (R), Vice Chairman of DPRK, during his dinner meeting with US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo (L) on May 30, 2018 in New York. /VCG Photo.

Of course, Russia is also using its own abacus.

In Da’s opinion, since the interruption of the Six-Party Talks, Russia has obviously been marginalized in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula. President Vladimir Putin has felt a bit left out, and he wants to increase his stake in international affairs, especially in the Korean Peninsula region following high-scale diplomatic efforts by the Republic of Korea and the US.

If Putin can earn the right to speak in the affairs of the Korean Peninsula and win the DPRK’s support, then he will greatly expand his influence so as to exert greater influence on the United States.

At the same time, the deterioration of relations between Russia and the West and the sanctions imposed on it have also brought it closer to the DPRK.

These factors provide opportunities for Russia to continue to occupy a place and to have the right to speak on the affairs of the Korean Peninsula.

Russia will not miss this opportunity.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (R) welcomes his DPRK counterpart Ri Yong-Ho during their meeting in Moscow on April 10, 2018. /VCG Photo.

Lavrov said the visit will help him understand Pyongyang's position on the nuclear settlement ahead of the Kim-Trump summit.

In fact, during DPRK’s Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho visit to Russia in April, the Russian official had expressed that Russia should not be excluded when discussing Korean Peninsula affairs.

The contest between the nations will always be based on interests, and Russia and the DPRK are no exceptions. In the future, the DPRK may have a closer relationship with Russia.

In Da’s opinion, the DPRK often chooses friends periodically. Russia plays a very important role in DPRK’s foreign affairs, as the two countries have similar ideologies and are very close geopolitically.

In recent years, Russia and DPRK have had no major conflicts. Russia is also a permanent member of the UN Security Council, and has a lot of military weight. If Russia wants to maintain multilateral diplomacy, it should consider the DPRK’s interests.

Furthermore, Russia and the DPRK have great potential in future economic cooperation. If Russia wants to develop the Far East region, it needs the support of labor from the DPRK.

Meanwhile, the DPRK has also expressed its desire for reform and opening-up. As important neighbors, there is great potential for the two countries to cooperate in such areas as fisheries, minerals, concessions, ports, and infrastructure building.