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North Korea needs China for survival: Why does Beijing need Pyongyang?

Russia’s importance with North Korea has grown dramatically through military cooperation and support linked

Xi and Kim express hopes for greater ties between China and North Korea

Russia by supplying troops and weapons to support its war against Ukraine. In return, North Korea has received economic and military

North Korea says it is not bound by any treaty on nuclear non-proliferation

support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military technology assistance from Moscow in return. The nine nuclear-armed states – Russia, the US, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel

North Korea opens museum commemorating troops killed fighting for Russia

support and possibly sensitive technologies. Officials in South Korea, the US and allied countries fear Russia could transfer advanced know-how to Pyongyang that would boost its nuclear and missile programmes. Military experts say North

North Korea boosting ability to manufacture nuclear arms, IAEA chief warns

North Korea has sent ground troops and artillery shells to support Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and observers say Pyongyang is receiving military

Japan loosens arms export rules in break from post-WW2 pacifism

supporters say Japan needs to face a new reality where old rules no longer apply for a country that sits surrounded by China, Russia, and North Korea. But critics worry that Japan is becoming

Moscow marks Victory Day with a Red Square parade under tight security

Russia's most important secular holiday, to showcase the country's military might and rally support for his military action in Ukraine, now in its fifth year. Speaking at the parade, Putin hailed Russian troops

Key bridge linking North Korea and Russia almost finished, satellite images show

military goods and munitions - both to North Korea and to Russia," said Dr Edward Howell, Korea Foundation Fellow at the Chatham House think tank. The new road across the Tumen River is located

China re‑centers North Korea ties as nuclear silence reshapes balance

supported denuclearization. As recently as 2023, Beijing and Moscow backed a "dual track" approach, combining denuclearizing North Korea with a permanent peace regime to replace the 1953 Korean War armistice. But geopolitics has changed since

Thousands of North Koreans fought for Russia. A memorial hints at the death toll

Military Operations aims to convey the "unrivalled bravery" of North Korean soldiers during their deployment to "liberate [the] Kursk region", according to state news agency KCNA. The memorial consists of two 30m (98ft) long memorial

‘You can stop your war’: Zelenskyy’s open letter to Putin – in full

North Korea’s help. You are the first ruler of Russia to turn to Pyongyang for assistance. And today you are fully dependent on China – also for the first time in Russia’s history

Anti-war protests rock Japan as PM pushes for stronger defence

North Korea, and Russia nearby. And the United States, its closest ally, has been encouraging Tokyo to play a more active security role. She's not the first Japanese leader to push for changes

Putin suggests Russia’s war on Ukraine ‘coming to an end’

supported by the entire NATO bloc”. “Victory has always been and will be ours,” he added, as columns of troops lined up on Moscow’s Red Square. Speaking to reporters afterwards, Putin blamed Western “globalist

China’s Xi headed to North Korea in bid to shore up ties

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That diplomacy has helped persuade North Korea to supply [troops](/video/101-east/2026/5/30/north-korean-pows-political-pawns-in-russias-war-on-ukraine) and weapons to the Russian cause. Shortly before meeting Putin, Xi [welcomed US President Donald Trump](/news/2026/5/14/chinas-xi-warns-trump-about-taiwan-at-beijing-summit) to Beijing

Friendship or leverage: Why is Xi Jinping in North Korea?

military response from the US, Japan and South Korea, which would worry Beijing. That is also why China is not endorsing Pyongyang's nuclear programme - because that would increase US involvement in the region

Russia will always be victorious, says Putin at scaled-back Victory Day parade

supported by the entire Nato bloc. And despite this, our heroes move forward. Victory has always been and will always be ours.” Despite the confident rhetoric, this year’s parade laid bare a moment

What is uranium enrichment and how quickly could Iran build a nuclear bomb?

military strike would not necessarily eliminate the nuclear threat. A single centrifuge cascade capable of enriching weapons-grade uranium could take up “no more floor space than a studio apartment, making it easily hidden

Japan builds up its ‘southern shield’ as faith in US security cover falters

Russia since 2019. Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi told reporters at the time that “Japan faces the most severe and complex security environment in the post-war era” and the country must strengthen its “deterrence

NPT summit: Can nuclear pact survive US-Israel war on Iran?

military action. She also argued that frustration with the NPT process helped drive support for the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted in 2017, which offers an alternative path towards disarmament outside

China’s Xi, North Korea’s Kim pledge to boost ties at rare Pyongyang summit

support for Beijing’s “one China principle”, a reference to Beijing’s official position that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. Kim and Xi also discussed international and regional issues and reached