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North Korea Requests Russian Nuclear Technologies in Exchange for Missiles and Troops in Ukraine War.
As the war in Ukraine intensifies, North Korea has increased its involvement by requesting nuclear technologies from Russia in exchange for missiles and military personnel. According to Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, North Korea's request includes low-yield tactical nuclear weapons and submarine-launched missile systems. South Korean intelligence services have also warned that Russian assistance in modernizing North Korea's military could destabilize the region. This agreement between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin was formalized with a mutual defense pact signed in June 2024, marking increasingly close military cooperation between the two countries.
On October 23, 2024, Kim Jong Un inspected strategic missile bases in Pyongyang (Picture source: KNCA )
This collaboration is not new. North Korea has been supplying munitions, missiles, and other weapons to Russia since August 2023, with over 13,000 containers of military equipment delivered. Now, Pyongyang appears to be intensifying its involvement by sending soldiers to support Russia's war effort.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and South Korean intelligence reported that North Korean soldiers are undergoing training in Russia, with the first deployments expected in November 2024. Zelensky condemned this move, describing North Korea's involvement as “another state joining the war against Ukraine” and called for a strong international response.
Reports indicate that 1,500 North Korean special forces have already arrived in Russia, with plans to deploy thousands more. These soldiers, disguised in Russian uniforms, are undergoing training before being sent to the front lines. This marks North Korea's first major military intervention abroad since the Korean War in the 1950s.
In return, North Korea is not only receiving Russian military equipment but also potentially critical support for its nuclear and missile programs. Pyongyang is seeking Russian assistance to refine intercontinental missile technologies and other advanced weapons systems, including space-based surveillance capabilities. These developments pose a significant threat to regional security, particularly for South Korea, which has already condemned the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea.
South Korean intelligence services have raised alarms about the implications of this growing alliance. Officials in Seoul have described the deployment of North Korean soldiers as a “serious security threat” and warned that Russian support for the modernization of North Korea's military could destabilize the region. South Korean officials have also indicated they may reconsider their policy of not supplying lethal aid to Ukraine, depending on the evolving situation.
The TEL carried the RS-24 Yars ICBM during the Victory Day Parade in Moscow in 2022 (Picture source: Vitaly V. Kuzmin)
The cooperation between Russia and North Korea marks a significant turning point in the dynamics of the Ukraine war. Initially seeking quick victories, Putin now finds himself increasingly reliant on foreign support. In addition to North Korea, Russia has reportedly received weapons from Iran and China, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
Despite denials from Moscow and Pyongyang, the presence of North Korean soldiers in Russia is becoming increasingly difficult to dismiss. Satellite images and South Korean intelligence reports have corroborated these claims, and videos of North Korean troops in Russia have surfaced online. If confirmed, North Korea's direct involvement in the war would represent a significant escalation with potential global security implications.
For North Korea, the war in Ukraine offers a rare opportunity to gain real combat experience and test its military equipment in active conflict scenarios. This experience could significantly enhance its military capabilities, which could later be used against South Korea. Analysts fear that the knowledge gained from operations in Ukraine could be incorporated into North Korea's future military strategies, particularly in its efforts to modernize its conventional and nuclear arsenals.
Meanwhile, the international community is closely monitoring the situation. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte warned that the deployment of North Korean troops would represent a major escalation of the conflict, while U.S. officials expressed concerns about the risks posed by North Korea's increased military support for Russia. The United Nations has also raised alarms, with discussions underway on possible responses to the growing military cooperation between the two autocratic regimes.