Putin Has Activated the Bat Signal: North Korean Reinforcements Against Ukraine
In 1939, before executing an invasion of Poland, thereby ensuring a second world war, Adolf Hitler wanted to guarantee German soldiers attacking from the west would not encounter aggression from the Soviet Union in the east. While wishing to remain out of the increasing tension long enough to bolster his military, Soviet leader Joseph Stalin agreed to sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact with Hitler, promising Soviet forces would not interfere with Germany’s plan.
Two years later, Stalin learned an agreement with the German dictator was about as good as a handshake with fingers crossed behind Hitler’s back when Nazi forces invaded the Soviet Union in violation of the pact.
Here we are, eight decades later, shadows of another world war looming as Europe is closer to war than it has ever been since 1945 and fascist ideology threatens democracy’s future at home and abroad. This time, though, it’s Russia reaching out to other authoritarian regimes for help in its now two-year onslaught of Europe’s largest democracy, Ukraine.
In June, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin was in North Korea for talks with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un that culminated in both men signing a “defensive” pact requiring each country come to each’s aid if either is attacked.
