As tensions rise between India and Pakistan following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, global attention has turned toward international allies. With Pakistan frequently issuing nuclear threats and India retaliating with strong diplomatic and security measures, the question looms: if conflict escalates, who would side with whom? And more curiously, where does North Korean leader Kim Jong Un stand?
India-Pakistan: A Tense Standoff
Though no official declaration of war has been made, relations between India and Pakistan remain strained. Pakistan continues to provoke India through inflammatory statements and threats, while India has taken firm steps to isolate Pakistan diplomatically and hold it accountable for fostering terrorism. In this climate, global alliances could prove crucial.
Pakistan Isolated After Pahalgam Attack
Following the recent attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Pakistan has found itself globally cornered. “Pakistan always thinks that if it gives shelter to terrorism and carries out terrorist attacks in the world, then the Muslim countries in the world are more in number and in such a situation those countries will support it. But this is the biggest misunderstanding of Pakistan,” a geopolitical analyst noted.
India-North Korea Relations: A Cordial History
Contrary to popular belief, India and North Korea have maintained a largely cordial diplomatic relationship. Despite India’s strong stance against Pyongyang’s nuclear program and human rights record, the two nations have found common ground in science, technology, and multilateral forums. India has also extended humanitarian aid to North Korea, including during the COVID-19 crisis.
North Korea and Pakistan: A Complicated Past
While North Korea and Pakistan shared close ties during the 1970s to 1990s, particularly in military and nuclear cooperation, those connections have since weakened. Analysts believe that Pyongyang’s support is no longer guaranteed for Islamabad. “Opinion is divided about North Korea’s relations with Pakistan,” said one observer. Given this uncertainty and North Korea’s warming ties with India, it is plausible that Kim Jong Un’s regime would lean towards New Delhi in the event of escalated conflict.
As the situation continues to evolve, the global diplomatic chessboard will determine how nations align—and North Korea’s unpredictable stance could prove significant.
