Russia is providing North Korea with intel for Kim Jong Un to produce Shahed kamikaze drones, the same weapons being used by Iran in its attempt to overwhelm Israel’s ‘Iron Dome’ defense system.
The commander of Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence Directorate (HUR) says Moscow and Pyongyang are collaboraing to allow the latter to produce drones.
The two nations have grown increasingly closer with their military operations since Russia launched its attemperd invasion of Ukraine back in 2022, with North Korea becoming a key backer in Vladimir Putin’s offensive, reports Euromaidan Press.
Western and South Korean intelligence agencies have claimed North Korea is actively providing millions of artillery rounds and deploying up to 11,000 troops in exchange for advanced military technologies.
Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov said. “There are agreements on the beginning of the creation of capabilities to produce UAVs of the Garpiya and Geran (the Russian marker for Iranian Shahed 131 and Shahed 136 drones) types on the territory of North Korea.”
Iran’s military has used the drones alongside ballistic missiles to try and get through the Iron Dome following the launch of missiles froim Israel.
Introducing the weapon to Kim’s military arsenal could pose a shift in geopolitical dynamics in the Indo-Pacific region, according to Budanov.
“It will for sure bring changes in the military balance in the region between North Korea and South Korea,” He added,
Shahed drones have been deployed by Russia against Ukraine throughout the war, with Russia assembling around 2,000 units each month, with plans to increase this number to 5,000.
Moscow and Pyongyang have shared other pieces of technology intel, beyond drone production, according to Budanov.
The senior Ukrainian commander believes that Russia has helped increase the reliability of North Korean-made weapons, such as the KN-23 short-range ballistic missile.
He said: “Initially, with the beginning of the transfer to Russia, they were flying with a deviation of a few kilometers, but now they are exactly hitting the target. This is the result of the common work of Russian and North Korean specialists.”
Last week, satellite images revealed North Korea had salvaged a recently unveiled frigate which capsized during launch, in front of Kim Jong Un.
Work is underway to restore the warship to pristine condition with the understanding that it could be of sue to Russia due to its close proximity to a shared border between the countries, further underlining the enhanced bond between them.
Budanov adds that Ukrainian intelligence understands Russia is aiding North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, offering help with previously unsolved stumbling blocks with missile carriers and submarine-based launch systems.
