Russia in Inter-Korean Relations

The Korean peninsula is one of many areas where President Vladimir Putin sees Russia playing a key role in conflict resolution. ¹ Russia’s determination to make its influence felt on Korean issues was much in evidence during the 2002–03 crisis over the resumption of North Korea’s nuclear program in violation of international agreements, when Russian diplomats worked hard to reduce tensions between the United States and North Korea and bring them to the negotiating table. Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandr Losyukov went so far as to say that “Without taking Russia’s interest into account, it is almost impossible” to resolve the nuclear crisis in North Korea.