Of princes and pawns: Both Koreas on edge with Trump to meet Putin

They fear getting sold out as a paradigm shift in US foreign policy towards the Korean peninsula looms.

- Lin Suling

The world will be watching as US President Donald Trump sits with Russian President Vladimir Putin soon in Saudi Arabia, in what is expected to birth the deal of the century as both sides seek a resolution to the nearly three-year war in Ukraine.

A key question is whether Mr Trump can be counted on to safeguard Ukraine's interests. Concerns are swirling that he could "sell out" the country and push for a compromise with Mr Putin.

Ukraine aside, nowhere is that fear of getting played out by the superpowers more keenly felt than on the Korean peninsula, where similarly, one country was ripped apart during the Cold War.

With one part under the US sphere of influence and the other under Russia's, the two Koreas again risk becoming pawns in a proxy fight between the princes.

Both are worried that in Mr Trump's and Mr Putin's desire to strike a broader deal, their interests will end up sacrificed.

IN PYONGYANG, RISKS OF GETTING DITCHED GROW

Across Asia, as allies and trading partners to the US in Asia scramble to deal with an announced framework for US reciprocal tariffs, it is Mr Kim Jong Un who will give undivided attention to the grand bargain on Ukraine being hashed out.

After all, he might just get ditched by a resurgent Russia which, despite its historical ties to North Korea as communist comrades-in-arms, has growing relations with an expanding number of countries in Eurasia and Africa through the Brics grouping.

North Korea survives by dint of support from its superpower friends. And after decades of reliance on China for food, fuel and fertiliser, and a Covid-19 wake-up call on the need to diversify support after China closed borders and aid supplies, Pyongyang struck gold in 2024.