In 2025, there are four key developments to watch in DPRK–Russia relations. First, following the new DPRK–Russia treaty signed in 2024, their relationship is likely to move beyond military and security cooperation and gradually expand into areas such as the economy, society, and culture. Second, Russia is expected to actively push for easing the sanctions regime on North Korea and to invest in logistics infrastructure to mitigate structural barriers to bilateral cooperation, as North Korea remains a useful partner in Russia’s Asia-Pacific strategy. Third, the development of DPRK–-Russia relations may progress more slowly than anticipated, as Russia faces clear limitations in serving as a true alternative to China for North Korea, and the structural constraints surrounding this relationship will take time to resolve. Lastly, with expected partial sanctions relief—particularly in the financial sector—as U.S.–Russia ceasefire talks advance, South Korean companies with significant Russian market share, such as Hyundai (which retained a foothold through “buy-back options”), should be quietly permitted to reenter the market as part of a broader effort to rebuild ties with Moscow.

This article is an English Summary of Asan Issue Brief (2025-09).

(‘2025년 북러 관계 전망과 한국의 대응’)