Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), said in an interview with The War Zone that russia and North Korea's growing military cooperation is already reshaping the strategic balance in the Asia-Pacific region.

North Korea is expanding its capacity for aggressive warfare by leveraging russian military technology and combat experience — particularly in the mass production of strike drones.

"Agreements to launch domestic production of drones such as the 'Harpy' and 'Geran' — russia's version of the Iranian Shahed-136 — on North Korean soil could significantly shift the military equilibrium between North and South Korea," Budanov said.

In addition to drone technology, North Korea is advancing its nuclear capabilities with direct support from the russian federation — including long-range missile systems and nuclear-powered submarines.

"The first batch of KN-23 missiles delivered by North Korea to russia was highly flawed — with many veering off course or detonating midair. Now, they strike with precision. That's the result of joint efforts by russian and North Korean engineers," Budanov noted.

North Korea also provides russia with manpower, outdated but functional weaponry, and low-cost industrial capacity to sustain the war against Ukraine. Among the equipment deployed by russian forces: D-74 122mm howitzers, 107mm and 240mm multiple rocket launchers, and 170mm M1989 (Koksan) self-propelled artillery units.

Read more about the emerging threats the russia–North Korea alliance poses in the full interview at The War Zone.