The Tu-22M3 missile carrier crashed in the Stavropol region. Kyiv claims it was shot down, Moscow says there was a technical malfunction

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North Korean whirlpool

Russia's war against Ukraine is acquiring a new element: Moscow is now drawing into this mess its ally North Korea. Putin is forming a comprehensive strategic partnership with Pyongyang, which involves providing mutual military assistance in the event of an attack on either of the two. Outwardly, the alliance looks completely asymmetrical and resembles the tactics applied byNazi Germany to build a support group of satellite nations on the eve of World War 2.

If we go further along this parallel, the Third Reich, expanding its aggression in all directions, was exploring opportunities to put together a military bloc to confront the targeted countries, including the USSR. So, the Kremlin's fan of warfare historyapparently decided to copycat that behavior in 21st century. The military-political alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang is starting to pose a major challenge not only for Ukraine, which is the first to face the consequences of this malign tumor, but also for the entire collective West. In the political domain, the two authoritarian dictatorships expressed solidarity and common views on global order. They strive to convey the message about the viability of dictatorships in modern conditions, smashing what’s left of the myth of the "end of history". Putinists and United Russia party leaders are impressed by the state model applied inthe DPRK, with the Kim dynasty, a monopolist Workers' Party of Korea, ridiculously decorated generals, and the "Juche" idea. To some extent, a number of elements of North Korean realities have already been introduced within Russia, but apparently this is only the start of adopting the experience of the belligerent neighbor. In the military domain, the processes of interaction between the two regimes are developing even faster. North Korea supplies weapons to the Russian occupation army, that is, Pyongyang is already an accomplice in Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. There are facts confirming the strikes on Ukrainian territory involving DPRK’s KN-23 ballistic missiles, an analogue of the Iskanders. The Russian offensive in Donbas is partly sustained by North Korea, which covers up to 50% of Russia’s annual demand for ammo, (1.5 million rounds).

The "North Korean brothers" not only deployed military instructors to help Russia, but also send their troops to be embedded with the Russian armed forces. Putin could have “bought” from Kim some 10,000 to 30,000 soldiers. That report has been confirmed, including through South Korea’s National Intelligence Service and their military.

For the Russians, that decision is, in fact, quite painful. The problem is not only about humiliation before Kim and financial expenses needed to fund foreign mercenaries. There are more problems to that.

Firstly, the involvement of North Korean military servicemen inthe war points to Russia’s struggles with replenishing war casualties as a result of “meat grinder” assaults. Isn’t that a failure as such? Moreover, the North Koreans are seen as an unreliableforce. After all, seeing “another kind of life” outside their nation-wide concentration camp, they might simply flee from their units and scatter across Russia.

Secondly, Kim Jong-un wants more than money. He craves for nuclear technology and military-grade uranium from Russian reserves. The DPRK is striving for going further nuclear, and accordingly, Moscow, creating a dangerous precedent, is destroying the nuclear non-proliferation regime. This is a step towards depriving Russia of its status of an UNSC permanent member.

Thirdly, the strategic alliance between Russia and North Korea means Moscow is actually entering into a state of war with South Korea, with all the ensuing implications. Meanwhile, somedangerous military developments have already begun on the Korean Peninsula.

So, Putin's hopelessness in his desperate war effort in Ukraine has pushed him towards highly risky connections that create additional hotbeds of tension and literally provoke World War 3.