Asia-Pacific

Analysis: N. Korean Criticism of US Military Sales to Taiwan

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By Eason Chen/John Van Trieste

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Korea expert at Taiwan's Institute for National Defense and Security Research Lin Chih-hao looks at how significant North Korea's recent criticism of US arms sales to Taiwan might be.

For more on North Korea’s position on the Taiwan Strait, John Van Trieste spoke to Lin Chih-hao, Korea expert at Taiwan’s Institute for National Defense and Security Research.

North Korea condemning the US is nothing unusual. But is their commenting on the situation in the Taiwan Strait rather than just on the Korean Peninsula significant?

LIN CHIH-HAO, NORTH KOREA RESEARCHER INDSR:

"Since 2023, [N. Korean leader] Kim Jong Un’s government has mentioned Taiwan multiple times. Before, he would talk about Taiwan through press releases from [China’s] Taiwan Affairs Office or State Council or other Chinese press releases. But in recent years, we find [N. Korea’s state news agency] using their own departments or so-called commentators to discuss the Taiwan issue. I think this is a newer trend in recent years and something unusual."

So if this isn't a one-off commentary, should Taiwan be concerned? After all, North Korea has helped its other ally, Russia, militarily in its war with Ukraine.

LIN CHIH-HAO, NORTH KOREA RESEARCHER INDSR:

"I don’t think we need to read too much into it because North Korea has not said this sort of thing through officials or official channels. I read it as North Korea seeking to adjust its ties with China while also maintaining strong criticism of the US. Because right around the time this was written there was the land mine explosion [on the DMZ] and talk in the US and at the UN about denuclearization and nuclear weapons."

Does this commentary say anything about the broader geopolitical situation in East Asia, where we've got North Korea, China and Russia seeming to be coming closer together in opposition to the US and its Asian allies?

LIN CHIH-HAO, NORTH KOREA RESEARCHER INDSR:

"Will this lead to North Korea, China and Russia or South Korea, the US and Japan confronting each other in opposing blocs? I think that might be difficult because while North Korea’s actions might add to regional instability in East Asia there's also still uncertainty between North Korea, China and Russia. It’s like they have three relationships in parallel. When it comes to containing the US North Korea has some consensus with China and Russia. But when it comes to the details I think North Korea has its own way of doing things. It’s trying to maintain a three-way balance between the US, China and Russia from its own position."