TRANSFORMATION OF RUSSIA’S APPROACHES TO THE DPRK AT THE BEGINNING OF THE XXI CENTURY

Abstract

The article analyzes the evolution of Russia's approaches to North Korea in the first decades of the 21st century. The emphasis is on Moscow's policy in the process of settling inter-Korean relations, and especially on its steps to resolve the North Korean nuclear problem. The sources of the study include the relevant concepts and strategies of the Russian Federation (RF), official websites of state bodies, and publications of the Russian media. The reasons and failures of Moscow's steps towards the DPRK, which pushed the North Korean regime away from Russia and contributed to its even greater international isolation, are analyzed. Recently, Moscow has been taking measures to strengthen mutual assistance with Pyongyang, with the aim of making it an important partner in easing tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia as a whole. These steps are not always productive as they lack the support of other countries. While researching Russian-North Korean relations, the author comes to the conclusion that the willingness and desire to take an active and businesslike part in solving the sensitive problems of the Korean Peninsula should rely on a thorough analysis of the previous and current policy towards the DPRK. A profound study of experience and lessons is needed, especially the unsuccessful steps of Russian diplomacy in the North Korean direction. This contributes to the development of new, non-standard approaches to resolving the acute Korean crisis.