Geographical Distance
North Korea is located in east Asia and shares borders with Russia, China, and South Korea. Ukraine is a former Soviet Republic situated in eastern Europe which borders Belarus, Moldova, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Russia, among others.
Considering the distances on land between North Korea and Ukraine, the two countries are far apart. North Korea is roughly 6850 km away from Ukraine. This is equivalent to a flight time of about 12 to 14 hours. To put this into perspective, the distance between North Korea and Ukraine is about the same as the distance between Kiev, Ukraine, and Lima, Peru.
Political and Cultural Context
The two countries have little in common politically, with North Korea maintaining a strong authoritarian government and Ukraine having democratic elections and a market economy. North Korea is led by the Kim Jong-Un regime and maintains a closed society, while Ukraine is an open society with regular elections and a multi-party system.
Their cultures and language are also very different. North Korea follows a traditional East Asia culture, while Ukraine follows a Slavic culture. North Korea speaks Korean, and Ukraine speaks Ukrainian, a language which shares similarities with Russian. While the two countries have established diplomatic missions in each other’s nations, there is no formal relationship between them.
Trade
Trade between North Korea and Ukraine is limited, and there are few economic ties between the two countries. North Korea has few sources of import, while Ukraine has almost none in North Korea. The only trading relationship between the two countries is the sale of Ukrainian chemicals to North Korea which can be used in the manufacture of weapons. Ukraine also exports corn, grain and other products, mostly to South Korea.
Military
Relations between North Korea and Ukraine are also limited in terms of military cooperation. Ukraine is a member of NATO and has had a long-standing presence in the United Nations as a non-permanent member on the Security Council. North Korea is a member of the Non-Aligned Movement and is not a member of the United Nations. The two countries have had no conflict since their respective independence in 1991.
Travel and Tourism
Travel between North Korea and Ukraine is virtually nonexistent, as Ukraine does not grant visas to North Korean citizens. Ukraine has also signed onto international initiatives which seek to put pressure on North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program, and has imposed its own unilateral sanctions on the country.
The two countries have no direct flights between them, and the only way for citizens of each country to visit the other would be to travel through multiple other countries. This would not only be expensive and difficult, but also potentially dangerous.
Givebacks
Since North Korea and Ukraine are far away from each other, they will unlikely be able to cooperate on any major initiatives. However, North Korea could still benefit to some degree by allowing citizens of Ukraine to visit. Though it would provide a minor financial contribution to North Korea, it could also help to build bridges and foster understanding between the two very different cultures.
Impact on International Relations
The lack of interaction between North Korea and Ukraine is indicative of the larger diplomatic wall that stands between North Korea and much of the international community. North Korea has traditionally maintained very tense relations with many countries, and Ukraine is no exception.
In 2014, the Ukrainian government was among the first to condemns North Korea’s proclaimed development of nuclear weapons. Since then, Ukraine has maintained a very vocal opposition to the Kim Jong-Un regime, largely in response to its human rights abuses.
Tech Cooperation
In spite of their limited economic and diplomatic ties, North Korea and Ukraine have been able to cooperate on certain technology initiatives. North Korea has recently been developing its own cryptocurrency, somewhat modeled on Bitcoin and other existing cryptocurrencies.
Ukraine is one of the few countries to have offered assistance to North Korea in this endeavor, with Ukrainian software developers taking part in the process of creating North Korea’s own digital currency. This cooperation has likely been facilitated by the close technical ties between the two countries.
Philosophy Exchange
Though North Korea and Ukraine are not closely engaged in any direct diplomatic activities, the two countries could stand to learn from each other’s different approaches to politics and philosophy. North Korean citizens could learn lessons of freedom, governance and economic growth from Ukraine, while Ukraine could learn lessons of discipline, unflinching dedication and efficiency from North Korea.
It is noteworthy that, while the two countries have starkly different worldviews, both countries were able to work together in a small capacity in the production of North Korea’s cryptocurrency. This demonstrates the potential of cross-cultural exchange, which is important to consider in a broader international context.
Security Concerns
The ongoing tensions on the Korean peninsula, particularly between North and South Korea, have been an issue of concern for many countries, including Ukraine. North Korea’s continued involvement in nuclear weapon testing and ballistic missile launches have made the situation even more precarious.
Ukraine, having recently faced an armed conflict in its own country, is especially aware of the potential dangers posed by North Korea. Given the logistical obstacles to direct communication between the two countries, it is likely that Ukraine and North Korea will remain on opposite ends of the geopolitical spectrum for the foreseeable future.
