Seoul wary as North Korea seeks to arm Russia in exchange for military tech boost

Following Kim Jong-un’s visit to Russia this month, North Korea could arm Russia in exchange for a technology transfer to boost the North’s nuclear arsenal

But given Russia’s historical reluctance to share its technology, North Korea could end up getting just food and economic aid, analysts say

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Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un visit Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome on September 13. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:30am, 29 Sep 2023Updated: 10:33am, 29 Sep 2023

A transfer of advanced military technology from Russia to North Korea in exchange for arms for the Ukraine war would significantly elevate “existential threats” faced by South Korea, observers have said.

“Should Russia transfer highly sensitive military technologies to the North, such as those for ICBM re-entry technology, satellite launch vehicles, MiG 29 jet fighters, or nuclear-powered submarines that are sought after by Kim, it would be a breach of a red line,” said Professor Park Won-gon, a political-science professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

In that case, it would be “highly likely” that South Korea takes “carefully calibrated countermeasures” to cope with such “existential threats”, he said.

The observation follows Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invitation to visit Pyongyang, after North Korean leader Kim Jong-un visited Russia’s Far East earlier this month. Kim also toured military sites and viewed some of Russia’s advanced weapons systems such as nuclear-capable bombers, fighter jets and hypersonic missiles.

According to Pyongyang’s KCNA news agency, Kim also offered “full and unconditional support” to Putin in the war against Ukraine, with Kim and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu discussing the expansion of “strategic and tactical coordination” between the countries’ armed forces.

Analysts say Kim would likely supply ammunition to pad up Russia’s inventory in the second year of its war in Ukraine, in return for Russian technologies to modernise his nuclear arsenal.

But some analysts say Kim would end up just getting food and economic aid, given Russia’s reluctance to share its weapons technologies.

North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un and Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu inspect Russian warplanes in Vladivostok. Photo: AP