My favorite Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov — well, actually the only Kremlin spokesman we ever hear from — delivered some very un-funny news yesterday in reference to a Russian military delegation presently in North Korea, reportedly for the purpose of “implementing agreements reached during President Vladimir Putin’s recent visit to Pyongyang.” [Reuters, July 19, 2024.]

So why are you smiling, Dima, you big putz? You think plotting the end of civilization is a joke? Do you??!!!

Well, he didn’t actually refer to the end of the world . . . not in so many words. But in June, Russia and North Korea did sign a “comprehensive strategic partnership” pact including a provision for “mutual defense in case of aggression against one of the countries.” And this is what Dmitry had to say about that yesterday:

“Work is underway, including in implementing the agreements reached during President Putin’s recent official visit to Pyongyang. It was a rich, informative and productive visit, and now the two sides are working to implement the agreements that were reached. Our delegation’s trip occurred as part of those agreements.” [Reuters, id.]

All right, fine. “So the west has NATO. Why shouldn’t other countries have similar mutual defense pacts?” — I hear you ask.

Well, for starters, NATO isn’t threatening to blow up our globe if things don’t go their way. Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin have done just that from time to time.

Second, have we seen the other provisions of their pact? Is it really just a “you-cover-my-ass-I’ll-cover-yours” equivalent to NATO’s Article 5? What don’t we know?

Third, who will be monitoring the principals? NATO has 32 members; this agreement, it appears, has just two parties. What are the safeguards against overreaction?

And finally, there is the all-important trust factor. Can you honestly tell me that you believe either of these two best buddies would put the other’s interests — or anyone’s interests — before his own? Have they ever?

It’s not a question of whether they deserve backup; it’s a matter of who’s providing that backup. If Putin says he doesn’t like U.S. policy toward . . . oh, let’s say, the Houthi rebels in Yemen . . . what’s to stop Kim from going batshit and reaching for that red button to help out his friend? Or vice-versa?

And we all know what would happen next.

*. *. *

So, Dima, do you really find it amusing that these two aggressors, each with his finger on the nuclear button, have chosen one another as their defense partner?

You do realize that, in a worst-case scenario, they’d be signing your death sentence as well, don’t you?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/20/24