Russia and North Korea Expand Military Cooperation

Russia has provided North Korea with air defense missiles and military equipment in exchange for sending thousands of troops to fight in Ukraine, according to South Korean national security adviser Shin Wonsik. North Korea has dispatched over 10,000 soldiers to Russia, with some reportedly now engaged in combat on Ukraine's front lines. In addition to military technology, including advanced surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, North Korea has received economic support to bolster its defense systems, particularly around Pyongyang. Reports indicate that North Korea sent over 13,000 containers of artillery and missiles to Russia since August 2023, while Russia has supplied more than a million barrels of oil to Pyongyang since March. A strategic partnership treaty signed between Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin requires mutual military assistance, raising concerns in Washington and Seoul. This arrangement allows North Korea to gain advanced military technology and battle experience, while Russia benefits from North Korean military support in its war efforts.