October 8, 2026
North Korea has escalated its diplomatic tone towards the United States against the backdrop of arms deals concluded with Taiwan, warning Washington of the consequences of engaging in a direct confrontation with China, coinciding with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renewing his adherence to the strategic partnership with Russia and continuing to support it.
In details, the North Korean Central News Agency quoted international affairs analyst Kim Myung Chol as saying that US policy towards Taiwan undermines regional peace and stability, criticizing Washington’s continued supply of military equipment to Taipei. The article called on the US administration to consider whether it is willing and able to bear the consequences of entering into a direct confrontation with China over the island.
This North Korean position comes after the arrival of the first two American-made F-16 fighters in Block 70 to Taiwan last week, as part of a deal that includes 66 aircraft that Taipei had requested to purchase in 2019, in a move that is considered one of the most prominent hotbeds of ongoing tension between Washington and Beijing in the Taiwan Strait.
In a parallel vein, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un renewed his absolute support for Russia, in a congratulatory message he addressed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on the occasion of his birthday. Kim stressed that Pyongyang will continue to expand the scope of bilateral cooperation within the framework of the comprehensive strategic partnership, expressing his confidence that what he described as the “sacred war of justice” that Russia is waging will be crowned with “victory,” without the message explicitly referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
It is noteworthy that the rapprochement between Moscow and Pyongyang has witnessed a noticeable strengthening since Putin and Kim signed the strategic partnership agreement in June 2024, which includes a clause for mutual defense. Official Ukrainian and South Korean estimates indicate that North Korea has sent between 14 and 15 thousand soldiers to support the Russian war effort since 2024, which reflects the strength and growing level of cooperation between the two countries in light of the current international tensions.
