REGISTER: https://www.iiss.org/events/2026/04/conversation-with-dr-victor-cha--threat-like-no-other-the-dprkrussia-alliance/
Putin’s war in Ukraine has produced a unique transactional military relationship between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK, or North Korea) and Russia, posing multiple threats to the Indo-Pacific, Europe and the United States. To what extent are the contours of this relationship delimited by the Ukraine war? To what extent does the June 2024 Russia–DPRK comprehensive strategic partnership treaty make the relationship strategic? Under what conditions do transactional ties between illiberal regimes become strategic? And what policies are available to impede the growth of such ties?
Dr Lami Kim, Korea Chair in Advanced Technology, National Security and Defence, will be leading a discussion on these questions with a distinguished guest, Dr Victor Cha on security cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Dr Victor Cha is president of the Geopolitics and Foreign Policy Department and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He is also a distinguished university professor and professor of government at Georgetown University. From 2021 to 2025, he was appointed by the Biden administration to serve on the Defense Policy Board in an advisory role to the Secretary of Defense. From 2004 to 2007, he served on the National Security Council (NSC), where he was responsible for Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island nations. Dr Cha was the US deputy head of delegation at the Six-Party Talks and received two outstanding service commendations during his tenure at the NSC.