Which countries would you consider to be current allies of North Korea?

[Nakura]

Which countries would you consider to be post-Cold War allies of North Korea? I'm legitimately curious as to what countries you guys think are culpable of supporting North Korea. Below I'll make a few statements about each country in question and you can decide for yourself:




China (PRC)
The People's Republic of China is often considered the primary ally and foreign supplier of North Korea. The PRC initially only supported North Korea in order to quell domestic dissent in China (both within and outside of the Chinese Communist Party) and to show the world that China is a "major communist power." Following the end of the Cold War, China has been vocally critical of the North Korean regime, but have refused to break off their political, economic and military alliance. Some have suggested that China only supports the North Korean regime in order to prevent a refugee crisis and/or to avoid having a free country (South Korea) at their border.


Cuba
Both Cuba and North Korea are socialistic states and have maintained good relations since the 1960s. Despite international pressure, Cuba has been caught illegally smuggling weapons into North Korea.


Iran
North Korea is a major weapons supplier to Iran, despite the international embargo on both countries. North Korea is also assisting Iran with their nuclear weapons program.


Pakistan
North Korea and Pakistan maintain friendly relations. North Korea and Pakistan are (or at least were) arms trading partners. Some intelligence communities in the free world have accused Pakistan, or at least Pakistani nationals, of supplying North Korea with nuclear materials.


Palestinian Terrorists
North Korea and Palestinian terrorist groups have a common enemy, Israel. North Korea has even gone so far as to arm Palestinian terrorists and some warmongering Arab states.


Russia
The Soviet Union supported North Korea during the Cold War and sent considerable aid (and later troops) to North Korea during the Korean War. Following the Sino-Soviet split, China became the primary exporter of communism in Asia, limiting the Soviet Union's ability to influence North Korean affairs. Under Vladimir Putin's leadership, Russia has officially condemned North Korea's nuclear program, while simultaneously increasing trade between the two countries. Russia has also allowed North Korean troops to visit Russia and in some ways "advise" their North Korean guests.


Syria
North Korea and Syria have shared nuclear materials and information with each other.


Sweden
Though Sweden is a democratic western country, there is a pro-North Korea and pro-Hamas lobby within the country. This has resulted in Sweden working towards "solidarity" with North Korea, despite their widespread human rights abuses and international aggression. Sweden (along with Switzerland) was chosen by the United States to ensure North Korea was honoring the terms of the 1953 ceasefire.


Vietnam
Vietnam and North Korea are both state socialist societies (in theory at least). North Korea sent aid and troops to North Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Following the Cold War, Vietnam has followed a policy of rapprochement with the United States and free world, resulting in Vietnamese-North Korean relations being strained.


Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has provided training for North Korean troops.

[Roma_Victrix]

It's true, some countries decide to trade with North Korea every once in a while, and even train their troops. But this doesn't exactly make an ally when the going gets tough and North Korea would need serious help. In that regard only the PRC is a solid ally, but even that relationship is being strained as of late. Beijing is becoming more and more frustrated and impatient with Pyongyang's outbursts (which aren't good for business, in the eyes of the CCP).

[GussieFinkNottle]

It's true, some countries decide to trade with North Korea every once in a while, and even train their troops. But this doesn't exactly make an ally when the going gets tough and North Korea would need serious help. In that regard only the PRC is a solid ally, but even that relationship is being strained as of late. Beijing is becoming more and more frustrated and impatient with Pyongyang's outbursts (which aren't good for business, in the eyes of the CCP).

Interestingly China kind of sees NK less as an ally than as a subject, with the usial Han Chinese racial and political superiority complex. A family friend of mine (I suppose he would be my cousin once removed-in law, if that works) has been to North Korea and said the Chinese he saw there were acting like colonials, with total contempt for the locals. You see the same surprisingly old-fashioned imperial and protectionist outlook with Chinese corporations abroad, especially in Africa. In a way (obviously all historical parallels have significant irregularities), this could be compared to the early days of British corporate imperialism through the East India Company.

[hellheaven1987]

Interestingly China kind of sees NK less as an ally than as a subject, with the usial Han Chinese racial and political superiority complex. A family friend of mine (I suppose he would be my cousin once removed-in law, if that works) has been to North Korea and said the Chinese he saw there were acting like colonials, with total contempt for the locals. You see the same surprisingly old-fashioned imperial and protectionist outlook with Chinese corporations abroad, especially in Africa. In a way (obviously all historical parallels have significant irregularities), this could be compared to the early days of British corporate imperialism through the East India Company.

Tribute system only cares subject, not ally; the only people Chinese view as equal and hence possible to be ally is white men, or more precisely non-Slavic white men, due to how they repeatly punched China during 19th Century and made Chinese realized those white men were same as Chinese (or you can say those white men impressed Chinese). It hence why China today is engaging a hate/love relation with West, just like Imperial Japan did during early 20th Century.

[Roma_Victrix]

Interestingly China kind of sees NK less as an ally than as a subject, with the usial Han Chinese racial and political superiority complex. A family friend of mine (I suppose he would be my cousin once removed-in law, if that works) has been to North Korea and said the Chinese he saw there were acting like colonials, with total contempt for the locals. You see the same surprisingly old-fashioned imperial and protectionist outlook with Chinese corporations abroad, especially in Africa. In a way (obviously all historical parallels have significant irregularities), this could be compared to the early days of British corporate imperialism through the East India Company.

Old habits die hard, especially since the successive Korean dynasties were in fact tributary vassals to the successive neighboring Chinese empires. Even before that the Chinese truly did colonize what is now northern Korea during the 2nd century BC, during the Western Han dynasty. More recently, in the 1950s they were the sole reason that the US counter-invasion led by Douglas MacArthur failed to maintain control over North Korea, pushing the boundary back to the 38th parallel where it remains today. Although the Korean War is still known in China today as the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea, Chinese youths could care less about the hermit nation. The CCP even finds it hard to stamp out all the criticism of Chinese netizens blasting North Korea and the Kim regime. Kim Jong-un even made the high profile request to China to have one of their college students (studying in South Korea) to take down a video making fun of him:

[Abdülmecid I]

Umm why are there factions like Palaestine and ISIS in your poll? Just because two states share a common enemy , that doesn't mean they are allies. Were the Caledonians ever allied with the Parthian Empire?

[Adar]

Sweden as an ally of North Korea?

Source
The Communist North Korean government has declared Sweden their enemy and a US war puppet.

According to information from the Swedish Armed Forces, this brusque message was first conveyed in a North Korean radio broadcast, then printed as an official document and distributed to the United Nations.
The North Koreans' attack is not directed against the Swedish government as such, but against Sweden's and other neutral countries' military observation missions on the border between North and South Korea.
Sweden is active in the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC) present in the area. Following the end of the Korean War in 1953, the NNSC's task is to keep the peace with the help of the Swedes and the Swiss in demilitarized zones.
According to the Swedish Armed Forces, this latest North Korean ouburst comes just when the NNSC is observing an autumn maneuver between the US and South Korea. In this case the NNSC is in charge of making sure that the maneuver is for defensive reasons.
According to Bengt Carlsson, one of the Swedes active within the NNSC, the tasks they are carrying out in North Korea are completely within the Armistice Agreement.
But according to the North Korean radio broadcast, the Swedish supervision mission is a charade and a remnant of times past when Sweden and Switzerland let themselves be manipulated to aid the US in its preparations for war.
North Korea's position on this issue is not new. According to Paulo Beijer, Swedish ambassador in Pyongyang between 2001-2005, the North Koreans have always been critical of the NNSC's activities.

Historically Sweden have been nominally neutral which mean that Sweden along with Irish and Swiss forces have been used for UN missions where western non-NATO representatives have been necessary.

Those days are kind of in the past as we have been supporting NATO for the last decade very openly. But we still got some diplomatic ties due to this such as being the protecting power of Americans in North Korea. Which is sometimes of value in negotations such as in the recent release of Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller.

North Korea has released two Americans who had been held as prisoners, the Obama administration said Saturday.
A spokesman for Director of National Intelligence James Clapper said Americans Kenneth Bae and Matthew Todd Miller are on their way back to the U.S.
At the White House Saturday, President Obama said of their release, “It’s a wonderful day for them and their families. We’re grateful for their safe return.”

He thanked Mr. Clapper for his role in “what was obviously a challenging mission.”
Mr. Bae arrested in November 2012 and sentenced to 15 years’ hard labor on charges of seeking to overthrow the North Korean government. He was working eight hours a day, six days a week at a labor camp.
Mr. Miller, 24, was arrested in April for reasons that are unclear and was sentenced to six years of hard labor.
“We welcome the DPRK’s decision to release both Mr. Bae and Mr. Miller,” said DNI spokesman Brian Hale. The administration thanked international partners, especially the government of Sweden, for helping to secure their release.

Read more: http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...#ixzz3IZCs03vW
Follow us: @washtimes on Twitter

[conon394]

It's the only real ally North Korea has is China. They kept alive with blood and treasure and now they are more afraid of the cost of it melting down and facing the consequences than it value as a buffer state. In the same boat is South Korea really since they are not really West Germany to handle a much more poor and dysfunctional state than East Germany.

After that I suppose anyone who needs or wants anything NK can sell and is willing to do it on the side - but that's not really friends that is just business. Or everyone else from the US to Japan etc who just don't want a nuclear armed poor country with no lights to melt down and make huge mess for everyone. But that not friends either that just hey the guy with the gun and the hostages is a manic depressive nut job how do you keep him talking?

So really NK has no friends it has a lot of people who don't want to implode and than it a few odd business partners that will drop like a hot potato if the wind shifts.

Like say Cuba - say tomorrow that Obama used all possible executive action to gut US sanctions on Cuba - with the only provision being to join sanctions on North Korea - do really think Havana would need more than a second to agree?

[Caligula's_Horse]

North Korea doesn't have any real allies. The odd trading partner (more about profit then politics) or deal of convenience, sure, but nothing so formal or permanent as an alliance.

The closest thing North Korea has to an ally would be China, which at least in recent years, is less an ally, and more life support provided to avoid a refugee crisis, a confrontation with the west, and keeping the North's nukes in the hands of the devil they know.

[Chukada1]

North Korea.

[kyle2810]

The last place they need training is in Zimbabwe

[Roma_Victrix]

The last place they need training is in Zimbabwe

That's what I was thinking. However, I'm not quite sure if having the world's worst economy necessarily equates to having the worst training facilities for troops. It's just that the people working there probably aren't getting paid.

[KngGilgamesh]

Wasn't the Nuclear Information trade between Pakistan and North Korea through the AQ Khan network? Not sure if that network was state sponsored or not.

USSR was pretty close too, they actually set up the nuclear reactors in the first place.

[Kaiser Nonsense]

Bolivia, China, Cuba and Venezuela, although only in the paper, I hardly think any of these nations, especially China, would get their hands bloodied because of DPRK.

[justicar5]

Bolivia, China, Cuba and Venezuela, although only in the paper, I hardly think any of these nations, especially China, would get their hands bloodied because of DPRK.

North Korea doesn't even have diplomatic relations with Bolivia, so not much chance of an alliance their.

[Kaiser Nonsense]

North Korea doesn't even have diplomatic relations with Bolivia, so not much chance of an alliance their.

But Bolivia is walking towards communism. And their president Evo Morales is (just like that dead lunatic dictator, Hugo Chavez) always blaming the "American imperialism", that they must "unite the Latin America under the red flag and oppose the great capitalist evil of the USA", etc, in every speech of his the USA is always to blame (not that they are a perfect country, the USA, but that is ridiculous blaming them for everything, especially their own flaws, much like dead Chavez used to do, his own mistakes and flaws, he would accuse the USA not to lose popularity). Much like Kim Jong Un.

[hellheaven1987]

But Bolivia is walking towards communism. And their president Evo Morales is (just like that dead lunatic dictator, Hugo Chavez) always blaming the "American imperialism", that they must "unite the Latin America under the red flag and oppose the great capitalist evil of the USA", etc, in every speech of his the USA is always to blame (not that they are a perfect country, the USA, but that is ridiculous blaming them for everything, especially their own flaws, much like dead Chavez used to do, his own mistakes and flaws, he would accuse the USA not to lose popularity). Much like Kim Jong Un.

Chavez is Communist? That is a news to me.

[Shambloc]

But Bolivia is walking towards communism. And their president Evo Morales is (just like that dead lunatic dictator, Hugo Chavez) always blaming the "American imperialism", that they must "unite the Latin America under the red flag and oppose the great capitalist evil of the USA", etc, in every speech of his the USA is always to blame (not that they are a perfect country, the USA, but that is ridiculous blaming them for everything, especially their own flaws, much like dead Chavez used to do, his own mistakes and flaws, he would accuse the USA not to lose popularity). Much like Kim Jong Un.

What does that have to do with anything? North Korea is not Communist, its Juche (Korean Facisim).

[Kaiser Nonsense]

Chavez is Communist? That is a news to me.

Chavez isn't anything other than a corpse now, but yes, he was communist. You seen to be very uninformed.

What does that have to do with anything? North Korea is not Communist, its Juche (Korean Facisim).

Oh really, nothing to do with it!

North Korea:


Soviet Union:



China:



So yes, nothing to do with anything.

[Napoleonic Bonapartism]

China's the closest they have to an ally - most other relationships are marriages of convenience. But given China's transition to capitalism North Korea is becoming increasingly isolated - when China finally gives up on them it will implode under it's own weight - and about time too; though I can't imagine it will be a pretty picture for those unfortunate enough to be living in the state.