[RUS] North Korea could get a gas pipeline from Russia

North Korea could get a gas pipeline from Russia.

Given the geography, it’s certainly possible. Nine years ago, Putin proposed to South Korea to build a gas pipeline to South Korea.

If North Korea would allow it, the pipeline would go overland through North Korea and into South Korea. If North Korea would not allow it, the pipeline would go under the East Sea.

[Fig. 1] Proposed trans-Korea pipeline route (S&P Global Platts)

This was not Putin’s decision alone. There was coordination with former South Korean President Lee Myung-bak.

Of course, this could not be realized because of the multidimensional international relations at stake.

Russian influence on gas pipelines

[Fig. 2] Putin visited the gas pipeline. (June 14, 2018, Bloomberg News)

In 2018, there was talk of a Russian-North Korean gas pipeline. But at the time, U.S. sanctions against North Korea were still in effect, so Russia was unable to move forward with the plan.

Possibilities for new Russian-North Korean gas pipeline cooperation

But now, The situation changed quickly.

Both Russia and North Korea have been isolated in the international community and have reached a point where they need to help each other.

If they agree to build a gas pipeline to Pyongyang.
both Russia and North Korea would be immune to UN and US sanctions.

Russia recently weaponized its gas energy resources against Germany.
This could be a way to encourage North Korea to increase its energy dependence on Russia.
For North Korea, natural gas from Russia solves its energy problems.

In addition, natural gas produced in the Sakhalin region can be sent through Vladivostok to the “Qingdao” region of China.
It can also be sent to the “Shandong Peninsula” on the eastern coast of China.

Do you really think they would trade food for shells?

The issue of providing food and artillery shells is perhaps a minor one.

Russia is by no means so weak in defense that it needs North Korea’s production capacity.
Russia would also provide North Korea with conventional technology, but not the advanced technology that North Korea wants, such as the latest military satellite technology and nuclear submarine technology.