Kim's Russia trip is more like a friendly visit than 'plan B'

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Editor's note: Xu Fangqing is a senior editor at China News Week and an observer of Northeastern Asia and China's neighboring countries. The article reflects the author's views, and not necessarily those of CGTN.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) leader Kim Jong Un is in Russia, meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin today, the first time since the two leaders took office.

According to media reports from the Republic of Korea (ROK), the two leaders will hold several talks in Vladivostok, a stronghold of the Russian Far East region. Considering the ill-fated Hanoi summit between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, the first-time visit is reckoned as Pyongyang's alternate plan to live up to its goals on security and development.

However, the assumption is apparently far beyond the expectations of the two participants. For Kim, it would be a journey to strengthen traditional friendship with one country which has been a supporter and important neighbor.

The DPRK would like to seek a new way to break the current sanctions from the international community and Russia is a good potential partner on that. There is at least no loss for Pyongyang to advance the bilateral ties, or perhaps the engagement between the two countries could be taken as a new chip for both Moscow and Pyongyang to bargain with the U.S.

Apart from that, the DPRK also takes this opportunity to keep up its morale at home and abroad, a good way to walk out of the shadow of the second lackluster Kim-Trump summit.

DPRK leader Kim Jong Un calls on senior officials to display the spirit of self-reliance and fortitude under the prevailing "tense situation.” /VCG Photo

The recent statement from Kim indicates the Peninsula state no longer expects a once-and-for-all solution for lifting the sanctions within the short term. He explained that it would be a long journey for the DPRK against U.S. rivalry and sanctions, thus the term "self-independent economy" was also brought in.

As a matter of fact, the Russia trip was on the table for Kim Jong Un since Kim Yong Nam, another top leader of the DPRK, attended the World Cup in June last year. But the timing has been the only tricky thing for both to settle down.

As a traditional partner, Russia could play a constructive role for the peace cause of the Peninsula and for Pyongyang's economic development strategy as both could find a place for the mutual coordination in the areas of trade, natural sources and regional transport networks.

Undoubtedly, the DPRK's priority right now is economic recovery and development, which would require getting rid of the sanctions. However, the two-time Kim-Trump summits have failed to achieve this goal even though Kim Jong Un and his team said they had tried their best.

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a news conference after his summit with DPRK leader Kim Jong Un at the JW Marriott hotel in Hanoi, Vietnam, February 28, 2019. /Reuters Photo

Based on the current situation, the DPRK can neither return to the old track of fighting against the U.S. with its atomic arsenal, nor can it reach a big deal with the U.S. by meeting its requirements on Pyongyang in the short period.

The DPRK still embraces economic construction as a key method to win the support of the people in the country. That's why Kim also listed out a half-year timetable for the peace talks with the U.S. in his above statement which aims at saving some leeway to break the deadlock.

Pyongyang won't just stand still and wait for change passively in the next six or seven months. In fact, the DPRK would spare no effort to seek changes and prepare for a tough period under the harsh embargo.

It's no surprise that the DPRK would enhance bilateral ties with countries that treat Pyongyang equally and respectfully. Kim Jong Un will more actively engage with neighbor countries and regional organizations.

In reality, it would be difficult for Kim Jong Un to materialize economic cooperation with the DPRK's neighbors or other partner countries as long as the sanctions remain.

Therefore, it would still depend on the DPRK and the U.S. to solve the nuclear issue and reach a peace agreement. Kim's Russia trip is more like an interlude during the break time and the DPRK and the U.S. are still the two pivotal countries for peace in the Peninsula.

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