North Korean Delegations Visit Russia in Apparent Exchange for Weapons

North Korean agricultural and forestry delegations have visited Russia in an apparent exchange for weapons supplied to Moscow, according to an expert. The visit comes amid intensified bilateral exchanges between Russia and North Korea since late 2023, including a visit by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to Russia in September 2023 for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The visit of the North Korean delegations is viewed as part of an exchange for weapons provided by North Korea to Russia, as the two countries have strengthened their ties in recent months. South Korea has accused North Korea of providing over 1 million artillery rounds to Russia for use in the war with Ukraine, and in return, North Korea appears to have received advice on military satellite technology.

Satellite imagery also shows construction on an installation next to the launchpad at the Sohae Satellite Launching Center in North Korea. Additionally, the DPRK appears to have resumed sanctioned trade with China, importing cameras and computers.

Why this matters: The collaboration between North Korea and Russia is part of a broader trend of deepening ties between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, which are working together to undermine Western attempts to isolate Russia and support its war in Ukraine. This 'axis of upheaval' is fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape and poses a significant challenge to U.S. foreign policy.

Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow has deployed more than 3,700 Iranian-designed drones, and North Korea has sent Russia ballistic missiles and over 2.5 million rounds of ammunition. The support from China, Iran, and North Korea has strengthened Russia's position on the battlefield and undermined Western sanctions.

The cooperation among these four countries has expanded before 2022 and has been accelerated by the war, enabling Russia to access critical weapons and technology from its partners. "Managing the disruptive effects of this growing coordination and preventing the 'axis' from upsetting the global system must now be a central objective of U.S. foreign policy," the expert stated.

Key Takeaways

• North Korea sent weapons to Russia in exchange for military tech advice.
• North Korea and Russia have intensified bilateral exchanges since late 2023.
• North Korea resumed sanctioned trade with China, importing cameras and computers.
• Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea form an 'axis of upheaval' challenging U.S. policy.
• This growing coordination aims to undermine Western attempts to isolate Russia.