Russia and North Korea, 1992-2006:

This article exarnines the metamorphosis of Russia-North Korean relations from alienated allies to normal allies from 1991 to 2006. This research begins with a discussion of the distant relationship under Yeltsin and the normalized relationship under Putin. It len exarnines Russia s role in the midst of the North Korean nuclear crisis. s is followed by an analysis of Russia s saber-rattling in connection with North Korea s nuclear issue. By way of conclusion, this study makes a few observations on the current state and future prospects of the Russo-DPRK relations. After the implosion of the Soviet empire, the Russian Federation lost a global superpower status and has been groping to find a proper place in Northeast Asia as a great power. Evenhandedness and balance now characterize Putin s Korea ·With the convening of the six-party talks on North Korea s nuclear issue in August 2003, Russia was for the first time allowed to sit at a multinational negotiating table to discuss the North Korean question. Russia s role at the negotiating table has been marginal and its efforts for resolving North Korea s nuclear issue have focused on good offices and mediation.