Instead of helping to restrain the
regime, they appear to be rewarding its bad behavior. Reports indicate
both nations are increasing their bilateral trade, with several
claiming trade between Russia and North Korea increased by 85 percent
in comparison to last year. Some argue China is unwilling to impose harsh restrictions on trade
with Pyongyang because it would risk the regime's collapse and send a
wave of North Korean refugees across their border. This argument might
explain providing minimal assistance, but it does not justify billions
of dollars in cross-border trade, nor does it explain why North Korean
ballistic missiles are photographed being hauled by Chinese-made
trucks. China and Russia must believe the Kim regime serves their strategic
interests.
Keywords matched
refugees