Concerns are being expressed across NATO capitals over reports from Western intelligence officials that North Korea has emerged as Russia’s most crucial strategic ally, surpassing even China and Iran when it comes to immediate wartime utility during Moscow’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
This claim comes amid mounting evidence of increasing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow, including reports of North Korean arms deliveries to Russia in order to replenish depleted supplies. U.S. and European intelligence sources believe North Korea has become Russia’s “most essential wartime partner”.
“North Korea is now more crucial to Russia’s war effort than Iran or even China in terms of tactical military aid,” reported a senior NATO official during an open-door security summit in Brussels. While Beijing offers diplomatic cover and Iran supplies drones, North Korea provides Russia with battlefield munitions at scale.”
North Korean involvement in the Ukraine conflict has increased considerably over the past year, according to declassified satellite imagery and intercepted communications shared among allied intelligence agencies. Evidence includes weapons shipments by rail into Russia’s Far East as well as covert transfers of short-range missiles and ammunition through maritime routes.
Western officials believe North Korea has provided Russia with over 2 million artillery shells since mid-2024, helping their forces maintain their offensive in eastern Ukraine despite sanctions and logistical challenges. Russia in return is providing technical support for North Korean satellite and missile programs as well as food and energy supplies.
Last month, Russia President Vladimir Putin made a historic trip to Pyongyang and signed a mutual defense pact with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un — their first such agreement since the Cold War ended.
Dr. Lina Park, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic Asian Affairs noted, “Russia and North Korea have moved beyond mere transactional relationships, aligning ideologically and militarily to resist Western influence while isolating themselves from global affairs.
China, in contrast, has tread carefully diplomatically — avoiding direct military aid to Russia while maintaining economic ties. Iran’s support, though substantial in terms of attack drones, does not compare to North Korea’s sheer quantity of artillery and ammunition.
South Korea and Japan have expressed grave alarm at the deepening Russian-North Korean alliance, increasing military alert levels while calling for tighter trilateral cooperation among three powers – such as Russia-North Korea-U.S.
Washington has strongly denounced Russia and North Korea’s alliance as “destabilizing and dangerous.” At a recent press briefing, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned that their alliance represented “an act of desperation — one which risks drawing East Asia even deeper into global conflict”.
As the conflict in Ukraine drags on, North Korea will undoubtedly play an increasing role – not only as a weapons supplier but as an influential factor in redefining global alliances of today.