North Korea In BRICS Is A Reach Too Far

Furthermore, membership could facilitate access to economic assistance, infrastructure development and trade partnerships via BRICS institutions including the New Development Bank.

North Korea's bid could face significant political and diplomatic resistance from within the bloc itself. India, a pivotal BRICS member, maintains strong strategic ties with South Korea and Japan, both of which strongly oppose North Korea's nuclear ambitions and brinksmanship.

Brazil, another BRICS founding member, has historically adopted a neutral stance but may encounter pressure from its Western allies to oppose North Korea's inclusion.

North Korea's nuclear program represents a severe diplomatic challenge for BRICS. While Russia and China may exhibit a degree of tolerance toward Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions, other BRICS members are likely to resist alignment with a state subjected to intense international scrutiny and punishment.

For decades, North Korea has faced extensive international sanctions imposed primarily by the United Nations, US and European Union in punitive response to its nuclear weapons program. These sanctions have significantly constrained North Korea's economy, limiting its access to global finance, advanced technologies and trade opportunities.

Pyongyang's economy is markedly centralized and dependent on a limited array of industries – predominantly the military-industrial complex – while simultaneously grappling with persistent inefficiencies in agriculture and food production. These challenges obstruct North Korea's capacity to engage substantively in global trade and economic collaboration, with China serving as its principal lifeline.

North Korea's economy ranks among the most isolated and underdeveloped globally, characterized by limited capacity for international trade and investment. Although China and Russia could potentially assist in integrating North Korea into regional supply chains, such efforts would necessitate substantial structural reforms in Pyongyang – reforms that the North Korean regime has historically resisted.

As such, North Korea's internal economic imbalances, technological underdevelopment and inadequate infrastructure would present considerable challenges for its effective participation in BRICS' economic initiatives, potentially generating greater friction than cooperation within the expanding bloc.

In addition to economic and nuclear concerns, North Korea's human rights record is another contentious issue. The regime's authoritarian governance, suppression of civil liberties and treatment of its citizens have garnered widespread international condemnation.

BRICS, which already faces Western-led criticism as an authoritarian club championed by autocratic China and Russia, would face heightened scrutiny and risk further compromising its global image by admitting North Korea. Pyongyang's membership could thus undermine BRICS's efforts to become a credible alternative to Western-led institutions like the G7.

To be sure, North Korea's membership in BRICS could yield significant strategic benefits.

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For BRICS, the inclusion of North Korea could enhance the bloc's geopolitical influence in East Asia, enabling a more active involvement in regional security matters. For instance, BRICS could seek to position itself as a mediator on the Korean Peninsula, providing a diplomatic forum distinct from Western-led, US-influenced initiatives.

Although North Korea's immediate economic contributions to BRICS would be limited, the nation's untapped natural resources, inexpensive labor and strategic geographic location represent potential opportunities for long-term investment and collaboration.

All in all, North Korea's prospective membership in BRICS is a mix of risks and opportunities. While accession could afford North Korea economic relief, political legitimacy and a new pathway out of isolation, the nation's nuclear program, economic underdevelopment and human rights record present considerable obstacles.

For BRICS, North Korea's admission would pose significant risks to its global reputation and has the potential to incite internal divisions. As a course of action, BRICS should pursue cautious dialogue with North Korea, offering conditional membership that incentivizes economic reforms and a gradual diminishment of its nuclear program.

This balanced approach could enable BRICS to capitalize on North Korea's geostrategic value while mitigating the risks associated with its controversial policies, positions and leadership.

Simon Hutagalung is a retired Indonesian Foreign Ministry
diplomat. He received his master's degree in political science and comparative politics from the City University of New York. The opinions expressed in this article are his own.

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