Russia’s frenetic attempts to hop on the bandwagon of historic diplomatic talks between the United States and North Korea underline two simple facts: Pyongyang no longer depends on Russia for its economic and political survival, and Russia does not want the North’s regime to change.
North Korea emerged from the quagmire of the Korean War 65 years ago as red Moscow’s loyal, obedient vassal that diligently copied the Stalinist system – and preserved most of its frightening features such as a pervasive personality cult of the Kim dynasty, labour camps, and mass purges.
