Carlo Masala on why a Russian victory matters for Korea: North Korea Unpacked

Editor’s note: This interview was recorded in July 2026. Some references to recent events and political developments reflect the situation at the time of recording and may differ from subsequent developments.

German political scientist Carlo Masala joins North Korea Unpacked with Jacco Zwetsloot to discuss his book “If Russia Wins: A Scenario,” why a Korean-style armistice may not provide a lasting solution to the war in Ukraine and what a Russian victory could mean for security on the Korean Peninsula.

Masala explains why he believes the U.S. military presence has been central to maintaining deterrence in South Korea and how a withdrawal of American forces could change North Korea’s calculations. He also examines what Pyongyang is learning from Russia’s war in Ukraine, including the continued importance of troop numbers, electronic warfare and the vulnerabilities of technologically advanced militaries.

The conversation then turns to the growing connections between European and Asian security, including the possibility of North Korea creating a crisis on the peninsula to divert attention from Russian or Chinese military operations elsewhere.

Carlo Masala is a professor of international politics at the Bundeswehr University Munich, specializing in security policy, military strategy and international relations.

About the podcast: The North Korea News Podcast is a weekly podcast hosted by Alannah Hill exclusively for NK News, covering all things DPRK — from news to extended interviews with leading experts and analysts in the field, along with insight from our very own journalists.