Former Trump security adviser questions lasting power of North Korea, Russia relations

SEOGWIPO, Jeju — Alex Wong, a former deputy security adviser in U.S. President Donald Trump's White House, warned on Thursday that the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia shows the “dire state of the Russian war machine” and its ability to supply the ongoing war in Ukraine. 

“I think particularly in Pyongyang this is a considerable step and one that may prove to be, in the long run, unwise on the part of North Korea,” Wong, a global chief strategy officer (CSO) of Hanwha Group, said during an interview with reporters on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity 2026 at a hotel in South Korea’s southern Jeju Island. 

“It’s one thing, in a conflict, to lend diplomatic support. It’s another thing to lend economic support — it’s another thing to lend armaments and materials.” 

Calling North Korea’s extensive troop deployment and weapon supply to support Russia’s war in Ukraine a “dramatic step,” Wong cautioned that it will likely impact relations between North Korea and Europe. There also needs to be a clear assessment of how “permanent” Pyongyang and Moscow’s relationship will be, he added. 

“There would be more of a [latent] incentive [for a security arrangement between Pyongyang, Seoul and Washington to be reached] if the Russia and [North Korea] partnership right now proves more temporary,” Wong stressed. 

As global CSO at a South Korean conglomerate, Wong focuses on leading defense, shipbuilding and aerospace strategy across international markets. 

Wong previously served as the principal deputy national security adviser for the current Trump administration from January to May 2025, overseeing the coordination of U.S. defense, intelligence and foreign policy. 

Prior to that, he was the deputy assistant secretary for North Korea in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs from 2017 to 2021, during Trump's first term. 

Wong predicted that intelligence sharing among South Korea, the United States and Japan will “evolve toward a more expansive view of self-defense,” noting that the three nations are increasing defense spending. South Korea finalized its defense budget at 65.9 trillion won ($42.71 billion) for this year, up 7.5 percent from 2025. 

When asked whether the United States might show interest in actively reengaging with North Korea in the near future, Wong said that cooperation between President Trump — whom he described as an “unorthodox leader” and “not encumbered” — and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung could open possibilities. 

“The engagement that President Trump had with [North Korean leader Kim Jong-un] in the first term was quite positive between them; they had a good relationship,” Wong said, explaining that their “leader-level, top-down, summitry-first approach” is worth trying again if conditions are right. 

He warned that “pressure alone” will not help reach an accord with North Korea, acknowledging that while pressure is an “important element” in the geopolitical landscape, engagement should be prioritized. 

Looking back on his experience at the White House, Wong said that one of the chief guiding principles was deep coordination with South Korea regarding the North Korean issue. 

“I was very heartened to see what was apparently a very good conversation between President Lee and President Trump at the [Group of 7 summit],” Wong said. 

“I think that leader-level engagement would continue both at the leader level as well as at the working level if there was any reengagement.” 

BY SHIN MIN-HEE [shin.minhee@joongang.co.kr]