Russia reportedly plans to transfer expertise and equipment to North Korea to help produce Shahed loitering drones—platforms that Russia itself acquired from Iran and has used widely against Ukrainian targets. These drones can fly long distances and detonate on impact, making them valuable tools for attritional warfare.
Ukrainian defense intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov said this development could inflame geopolitical risks in the Asia-Pacific, particularly between North and South Korea. The presence of kamikaze drones in North Korea’s arsenal could lead to regional airspace violations and increase the potential for preemptive military strikes.
Pyongyang and Moscow have deepened military ties over the past year. North Korea is rumored to have provided artillery shells, ammunition, and possibly personnel to Russia. In return, Russia is helping North Korea boost its defense manufacturing capacity, including missiles and drones, creating a new global axis of rogue military collaboration.
