There are concerns that a potential Russian technology transfer would increase the threat posed by Kim’s growing arsenal of nuclear weapons and missiles that are designed to target the United States, South Korea and Japan.
After decades of complex, hot and cold relations, Russia and North Korea have been getting closer to each other since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The bond is motivated by Putin’s need for war aid and Kim’s efforts to promote it. The visibility of his partnership with traditional allies Moscow and Beijing as he tries to break out of diplomatic isolation and make North Korea part of a united front against Washington.
The United States has been accusing North Korea since last year of providing arms to Russia, including artillery shells sold to the Russian mercenary group Wagner. Both Russian and North Korean officials denied such claims. But speculation about the countries’ military cooperation intensified after a rare visit by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to North Korea in July, when Kim invited him to an arms exhibition and a huge military parade in the capital, where he welcomed the US. demonstrated an ICBM designed to target the mainland.