North Korea Expands Missiles and Drones With Russian Help

North Korea has bolstered its ballistic missile capabilities and ramped up production of strike drones, drawing significant technical and operational support from Russia, according to a report by The New York Times. Moscow is providing military technologies, telemetry data, and expertise in exchange for North Korean ammunition, labor, and combat troops engaged in Russia's Ukraine war effort.

In early October, North Korea launched a test missile capable of delivering a nuclear warhead, with estimates of its flight range reaching up to 1,000 kilometers. This marked a step up from routine condemnation responses to missile tests, with South Korea conducting its first operational test of a hypersonic ballistic missile just days later.

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung witnessed the test firsthand, highlighting rising concerns within Seoul over North Korea's swift technological advancements. Western analysts suggest that Russia is offering Pyongyang insights into the performance of North Korean weapons in real combat against Western air defense systems. These telemetry and performance insights have allowed North Korean engineers to enhance missile guidance accuracy and terminal maneuverability, heightening the threat posed to South Korea.

Simultaneously, Russia has aided North Korea in setting up domestic production lines for loitering munitions and strike drones. Pyongyang has incorporated lessons learned from Ukraine and the Middle East, where unmanned platforms have overwhelmed advanced and costly air defense networks. Recent North Korean military drills involved a coordinated drone swarm targeting an island, demonstrating the potential impact of such coordinated strikes on defense systems.

The expanding military partnership between Russia and North Korea is underscored by a strategic agreement signed during Putin's visit to Pyongyang in June 2024, which included a mutual defense clause. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed Moscow's support in a recent letter to Putin, characterizing Russia's Ukraine war as a "sacred war of justice" and pledging further cooperation.

This agreement encompasses substantial conventional transfers and the deployment of an estimated 14,000 to 15,000 North Korean troops to Russia, including around 10,000 infantry and 1,000 engineers. South Korea's National Intelligence Service reports that about 6,000 North Korean soldiers have lost their lives or sustained injuries in combat, highlighting the dire consequences of North Korea's reliance on Russian technological support to mitigate troop and material losses.