Russia ‘does not care’, North Korea ‘indifferent’ as US election nears finish line

Despite official assertions that the US rivals are unconcerned by presidential election outcome, recent events suggest otherwise

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Neither Pyongyang nor Moscow have indicated a preference in the US presidential contest, but both countries have had relations with former US president Donald Trump. Photo: Kremlin / dpa

Published: 6:05pm, 6 Nov 2024Updated: 6:12pm, 6 Nov 2024

While Russia has been watching the US election closely, officials in Moscow said the country “does not care” which presidential candidate won, because tensions between the two were a bipartisan issue.

Media reports from North Korea indicated a similar indifference to the results of the US election.

As the presidential race between US Vice-President Kamala Harris and former president Donald Trump approached the finish line, several Russian officials indicated that a victory for either candidate would not be ideal for Moscow.

“In general, Russia does not care how these elections end, given that a bipartisan consensus has emerged in the United States regarding confrontation with our country,” Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Tuesday.

Zakharova said Moscow would be ready to study any changes to American foreign policy that related to Russia, and would “resolutely defend its interests” especially on national security.

North Korea, meanwhile, has been muted on the Harris-Trump race while ramping up its nuclear weapons development.