
In an increasingly polarized world, geopolitical alliances play a crucial role in redefining the balance of power. North Korea, traditionally isolated on the international stage, appears to be stepping up its efforts to align itself with economic blocs such as the BRICS, amid growing ties with Russia. This strategy could have major implications not only for Pyongyang’s diplomacy, but also for global geopolitics. North Korea’s conspicuous absence from the United Nations General Assembly in favor of a BRICS event in St. Petersburg is a harbinger of this.

A rapprochement with the BRICS
On September 19, 2023, North Korea’s Foreign Minister Choe Son-hui deliberately chose not to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York to attend a BRICS-related forum in Russia. The move reflects Pyongyang’s intention to strengthen its ties with the economic bloc, which includes emerging powers such as Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The event featured discussions on strengthening partnerships, and North Korea’s alignment with Russia appears to be intensifying, marking a strategic shift.
This rapprochement is fueled in part by the international sanctions and diplomatic isolation that Pyongyang has faced for decades. Analysts believe that North Korea is seeking to position itself within new global alliances to escape this isolation. However, despite North Korea's clear interest in BRICS, its inclusion in this economic bloc seems unlikely due to its economic limitations and the sanctions targeting it, such as theexplain Lim Eul-chul, a specialist in North Korean affairs.
Huge challenges to overcome
Indeed, while North Korea has expressed interest in working more closely with the BRICS, several obstacles stand in its way. For one, its complex relationship with China, an influential BRICS member, complicates its ambitions. Diplomatic tensions with Beijing could seriously hamper any attempt at formal integration into the group, according to Cho Han-bum of the Korea Institute for National Unification.
On the other hand, even as economic ties between Pyongyang and Moscow strengthen, North Korea's membership prospects remain dim. The current context of international sanctions, particularly financial restrictions, makes it difficult for Kim Jong-un's regime to comply with BRICS requirements. Despite these challenges, this rapprochement symbolizes a strategic attempt to break its international isolation and insert itself into a new multipolar world order.
North Korea’s willingness to align with the BRICS marks a significant shift in its diplomacy. However, obstacles related to economic sanctions and tensions with some members of the bloc make formal integration unlikely in the short term. The rapprochement, however, reflects Pyongyang’s efforts to move away from its traditional diplomatic isolation by exploring strategic alliances that could change its positioning on the international stage.
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