Byung-yeon Kim, a professor at Seoul National University, asserts that North Korea's decision to abandon the unification agenda is a defensive strategy based on pragmatic assessments of inter-Korean relations, geopolitical dynamics, and its domestic economic crisis.

Leif-Eric Easley, Professor at Ewha Womans University, argues that the Kim regime is maintaining power and control by leveraging its relationships with China and Russia while demonizing South Korea. However, this is an interim strategy before the U.S. presidential election in November 2024 because the DPRK-Russia-China "axis of...

Seho Jang, a research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy, highlights that Putin's potential upcoming visit to North Korea could significantly impact the evolving dynamics of Russia-North Korea relations.

Dong Ryul Lee, Chair of EAI China Research Center and a professor at Dongduk Women’s University, notes that while the partnership between China, DPRK, and Russia seems to have grown closer recently, it is more pertinent to focus on shifts within their bilateral relationships under the trilateral framework.