Overview

• Russia has agreed to set up Garpiya and Geran (Shahed-136 variant) drone production facilities in North Korea, according to Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.
• In exchange for technology transfers, North Korea will deploy troops and supply munitions to support Moscow’s war effort in Ukraine.
• Moscow is also sharing expertise to boost the accuracy of North Korea’s KN-23 ballistic missiles and to advance its submarine-launched ballistic missile capabilities.
• The agreement builds on a mutual defense pact signed in November 2024 and deepens cooperation on unmanned aerial vehicles, missiles and naval systems.
• Analysts warn that large-scale Shahed drone output in North Korea could alter the military balance on the Korean Peninsula and challenge South Korea’s air defenses.