[bert]

I can accept that reasoning. The Russian involvement is business, not politics.

Mother Russia is still sick and needs income. She has no exports worth a damn. Rocket technology and perhaps critical components are of quality and salable.

It can be argued that many of Putin’s actions including flying bombers close to various countries and the involvement in Syria are actually sales efforts to promote his only export products worth a damn.

Oh and by the way, the discussion here of a declaration of war and such fail to mention that the United Nations was engaged in battle with North Korea and the situation is under a cease fire that has existed for 60 years or so. I think ceremonial talks are presently ongoing at Panmunjom but don’t know for sure

[TigerLikesRooster]

Both China and Russia have their own motivation to engage in brinkmanship by giving help to N. Korea using salami tactics. In such a case, a player(China) mapped out in advance how much help he would provide to his client (N. Korea) to achieve a desired effect. The problem occurs when somebody else(Russia) is also giving help to the same client. Then the client is getting more than the player planned, getting extra from another player. A nicely laid-out plan is now getting ruined.

Russia and China are allies in a general sense but they do have different priorities and needs.