In a significant escalation of military collaboration, Russia has formulated plans to support North Korea in the domestic production of Iranian-made Shahed loitering munitions. These advanced drones are currently part of Russia’s arsenal in its ongoing military operations in Ukraine, raising concerns about heightened regional security tensions in the Asia-Pacific, particularly between North and South Korea.
Kyrylo Budanov, the chief of Ukrainian defense intelligence, emphasized that the cooperation marks North Korea’s deepening alignment with Russia amid the latter’s extended conflict in Ukraine. This partnership appears to involve Moscow providing military assistance to Pyongyang in exchange for North Korean manpower and resources, underscoring a strategic alliance that could reshape power dynamics in the region.
Budanov revealed that Russia currently has the capability to produce up to 2,000 Shahed drones each month, with plans to scale this to 5,000 monthly in the near future. He added, “There are agreements on the beginning of the creation of capabilities to produce UAVs of the Garpiya and Geran types on the territory of North Korea.” This initiative centers around technology transfer, facilitated by collaboration between Russian and North Korean experts.
The Shahed series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) poses a considerable threat to Ukrainian forces, compelling Kyiv and its allies to innovate countermeasures against these unpredictable weapons. Among these, the Shahed-136 variant has been particularly notable. It is capable of reaching speeds of up to 220 kilometers per hour and can target infrastructure and other airborne systems due to its low radar profile. Notably, in May, Russia executed a historic drone attack involving around 270 Shahed drones, coinciding with the collapse of ceasefire negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing three-year conflict.
This development not only signals enhanced military capabilities for North Korea but also sparks concerns about a potential arms race and increased instability in the region, as both North and South Korea may feel compelled to respond to this growing alliance.
