The Korea Factor
By 
Quite possibly the single most surprising thing about the Russia-Ukraine War is how it has engaged both North and South Korea:
When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, many of the global implications were obvious. Grain prices would rise because of transit and production disruptions in both countries. Gas and oil prices would increase because of sanctions against Russia. The global arms market would see a boost from the generalized sense of a return to mechanized, high-intensity warfare. All of these predictions would come true to a greater or lesser degree, but the details of the fallout have, in many ways, been unexpected. Indeed, very few would have expected North and South Korea, half a world away and without direct interests in the conflict, to have taken on such a prominent role in the war. Why has Korea taken center stage in the Russia-Ukraine War?
Some other links:
- Probably not much change in North Korea policy from a Harris administration.
- More on South Korea’s defense industry becoming an export monster.
- I continue to be very skeptical about Ukraine’s endgame in Kursk.
- Air Force still struggling to think clearly about what it wants from its next generation of fighter jet.
- Ukraine is actually doing pretty well on the democracy and corruption fronts, which is unsurprising given the curtailment of Russian influence in the country.
- From the OSINT Files: Tracking aircraft carriers from space for fun and profit.