Overview
- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back told lawmakers on Oct. 13 that Moscow likely shared submarine know-how with Pyongyang.
- He said North Korea acquired “various technologies,” while any SLBM test launches remain unverified.
- The assessment follows a June 2024 mutual-support pact that formalized closer Russia–North Korea military ties.
- Reporting says North Korea sent thousands of troops to Russia in late 2024, with estimates ranging from roughly 11,000 to as high as 30,000.
- North Korea’s Oct. 10 parade showcased new hypersonic MRBMs and Hwasong-20 ICBMs in front of Dmitry Medvedev, as Kyiv warns the partnership endangers regional and global security.