• Society

Opinion: Should Cambodia Be Concerned about the Russia-North Korea Alliance?

• By Sokvy Rim
• September 23, 2023 9:15 AM

After Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Cambodia, under the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen, voiced against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In March 2022, Cambodia voted in support and co-sponsored the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). In October 2022, Cambodia voted in favour of another UNGA resolution condemning Russia for annexing Ukraine's territory. Despite the war progressing, Cambodia has not changed its stance on the war. On February 23, 2023, the Cambodian government again voted to support the UNGA resolution condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine. Cambodia's action highlighted the Kingdom's commitment to respect the international rule and norm.

The current Cambodian Prime Minister echoed the same voice in the Ukraine issue. Speaking at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit in Jakarta on September 4, Hun Manet expressed Cambodia's willingness to multilateral system and rule-based international order. He also expressed concerns about the crisis in the region, including Russia's Ukraine war, saying that "True peace and prosperity can only stem from the peaceful settlement of conflicts through dialogue and consultation based on a win-win approach. It is imperative to have the participation and agreement of all parties involved, in a spirit of mutual understanding, setting the well-being of the people as a top priority". The speech indicates that the Cambodian government prioritises peace and is committed to following international rules and norms.

Nevertheless, now the war is progressing and spiralling beyond control. One of the great concerns is North Korea's supreme leader visiting Russia and meeting with Vladimir Putin. The meeting between the two countries signalling the strengthening of the relations as North Korea described it as "an opportunity to solidify further the traditional bond of good-neighbourhood cooperation between the two countries, which are rooted in comradely friendship and military unity, and to open a new chapter in the development of relations''. This is the first face-to-face meeting between Kim and Putin in over four years. This meeting indicates Russia's dire need for armed and ammunition for its war effort in Ukraine, while North Korea also lacks food support, advanced technology and diplomatic support.

During a six-day trip to Russia, Kim Jong Un inspected Russia's nuclear capabilities, missiles and warships. He also discussed military cooperation, referring to the Ukraine War. An article published in the Washington Times claimed that the meeting between Vladimir Putin and Kim could give a prospect of getting more armed, ammunition and labour to rebuild Russia's occupied territory. North Korea could also get advanced military technology, resulting in North Korea achieving its deterrence of a "nuclear triad".

The strengthening of relations between North Korea and Russia signals a worrying situation. It should be noted that Russia is a member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which previously supported the sanctions on North Korea, including the UN tightening its embargo on North Korea in 2017, which bans North Korea from operating business in foreign countries. It was part of an effort to pressure North Korea's nuclear program. The tightening between the two countries enabled Russia to veto any action of the members of the UNSC to pressure North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.

The strengthening of the relations also enables North Korea to earn foreign currency, whose economic condition depends on illegal smuggling. In addition, it also allows North Korea to reduce its food and fuel dependence on China. Russia reached out to North Korea, a country that Russia deemed as violating international law, showing that Russia is compelling for armed and diplomatic support.

It should be noted that despite China viewing the US unfavourably, China still shows an ambiguous position toward Russia's Ukraine War. China has engaged with both sides of the conflict, including meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Putin. Against this backdrop, Russia will try to convince China and other state leaders to support the Russian side. As Putin will also participate in the 3rd Belt and Road Conference in Beijing in October this year, He will try to have a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other participants, including Hun Manet, to gather support for the war's effort. It was recently reported that Putin will meet with Xi in October this year. Interestingly, Russia’s Security Council and Putin’s close circle Nikolai Patrushev raised that “Russia and China should deepen cooperation in the face of the West’s attempt to contain them both.”

Russia has tried to get Cambodia's support for its war effort. For instance, Cambodia's Election Committee (NEC) released the election results on July 23, 2023. Russia's Security Council of the Russian Federation congratulated Cambodia despite the US and Western countries seeming not to view the election. Upon Hun Manet being voted by the National Assembly as Cambodia's Prime Minister, Russia's Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sent a congratulatory message to Hun Manet, saying, "I am convinced that your activities as the Head of Government will promote the further development of traditional friendly and partner-like Russia-Cambodia relations." Russia still maintains its cordial relations with Cambodia despite Cambodia being one of the few countries in SEA to vote several times in condemning Russia at the UNGA.

As Hun Manet's foreign policy focuses more on economic diplomacy, particularly with China, the US, Western countries, Japan, South Korea, and other Southeast Asian states, Cambodia will tighten its support to Ukraine. Hun Manet makes his first trip as Cambodia's Prime Minister to the United States' capital city of New York to participate in the 78th United Nations General Assembly on September 21, 2023. Hun Manet will indeed talk on issues regarding economic development and sustainability. It is the main priority of Cambodia's new government. During his visit to participate in the ASEAN Summit in Indonesia, Hun Manet also emphasised the Kingdom's policy to become a higher-middle-income country by 2030 via the country's Pentagonal Strategy-Phase One. During his visit to China, Hun Manet mainly focused on economic relations between Cambodia and China. During his interview with media outlets in Cambodia, Jean-Francois Tain revealed that the meetings between Cambodia and China were mainly on economic ties. He estimated that 70% of the discussion was on economic relations, and another 30% was on politics.

In addition, Cambodia will continue to condemn Russia in UNGA for its action against Ukraine and continue Cambodia's stance to put pressure on North Korea. A month after the National Assembly voted Manet as Cambodia's prime minister, Cambodia continues to shut down the remaining North Korean restaurants in Cambodia. On September 6, one of North Korean restaurants in Cambodia, known as "Blue Flower Restaurant", was quietly shut down by the government.

Overall, improving relations between North Korea and Russia is a concern for the Cambodian government, whose main priority is to focus on economic development. Cambodia will need a stable and peaceful international system to strengthen the Kingdom's trade relations with other countries; as Cambodia's former Prime Minister Hun Sen famously said, "If there is no peace, then there is no development". The collaboration between Russia and North Korea brings the international system in a reverse term.