N. Korea: The Russian Perspective

Interesting twist on this story from inside of the Russian Federation.

I am baffled as to why Russia and its people want to hold on to Cold War era connections. Russia, along with China, still see North Korea as their protectorate.... even though Russia (supposedly) gave up Communism over a decade ago. I'm not really baffled.... I understand the reasons behind it... but it's still not good to see this kind of Russian support for North Korea 15 years after the Soviet Union fell apart. U.S. foreign policy is partly to blame for the Russian position in this case and in global politics overall.

However, there is an interesting twist to this story that is not being covered very well (if at all) in Western media.
The Russian Press is reporting that several Duma members are furious....and it has also come to light that more than 7 missiles may have been fired. Just how good is that NORAD equipment controlled from Cheyenne Mountain, which my tax dollars help pay for?????

More importantly, Russian Press is reporting that at least one of the North Korean missiles landed in Russian Territory (in Russian territorial waters).... in fact, several of the missiles landed closer to Russia than Japan. If you watch Western media, you are left with the impression that Japan is under attack. Story Here.

With this in mind, why are the Russians so supportive of this tyrant in North Korea? I know that Russia has close ties with N. Korea and Russia shares a border with N. Korea (as does China of course). However, if I were a Russian citizen, I would be concerned about missiles being fired by an unstable leader and landing in my territory.

But I also thought of another possibility. Could it be that Russia and China are involved in this whole thing along with the N. Koreans? As a way to aggravate Western countries or to see what U.S. military movements would be? High ranking N. Korean officials visited Russia and China just days before the missile launches. I have a hard time believing that Russia and China were not at least aware, if not involved in the plans.

I think that the Russian people should put a little more pressure on their government to let go of old Cold War friendships such as the friendship with N. Korea. Certainly Russia has more interest in a vibrant Japan and a vibrant S. Korea. Trade and Commerce are more fruitful from these countries than from N. Korea, which has no real economy. However, N. Korea does have plenty of natural resources and is a customer in terms of the Weapons trade, which Russia benefits. But that doesn't make up for Russia's Trade with Japan and S. Korea and other countries in the Pacific.

If Russia wants to be a part of the future and a part of the modern international community, then it has to decide which world it wants to live in. Russias leaders, eager to grasp at anything that harkens back to their time of greatness, are doing all they can to protect North Korea, hoping that it will bring them the prestige of Soviet times. Russia is trying to play on the international stage with one foot inside the world of "free" nations, and one foot inside the world of dictators and tyrants.

Putin does not give me confidence (and never has) that Russia wants to become a part of the world of "free" nations.