‘Nothing left to lose’: Putin embraces role of spoiler with Kim Jong-un summit

But there is an obvious logic to the Kremlin courting North Korea. It has ammunition that Russia needs to continue its war with Ukraine, where the Kremlin has had to ration its use of shells and rockets. And North Korea could play an important role in a coalition of countries still willing to do business with Russia.

“I doubt North Korea by itself can do so – we’re talking millions of shells – but along with their imports from Iran, Moscow will try to scrounge together what it can while ramping up production at home,” said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow in the Russia and Eurasia programme at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

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