An independent weapons expert told the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that North Korea is procuring parts for missiles from third countries and producing and transferring them to Russia faster than previously thought, for use in its war against Ukraine.
Jonah Leff, who heads Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an independent organization that tracks weapons used in conflicts, said his researchers documented remnants of four missiles they assess came from North Korea that were recovered in July and August in Ukraine. He said one of the missiles had markings indicating it was produced this year.
“This is the first public evidence of missiles having been produced in North Korea and then used in Ukraine within a matter of months, not years,” Leff said.
He said this indicates “a very short” period between the production of these ballistic missiles, their transfer and eventual use in Ukraine.
Leff also noted that some missile remnants had components not manufactured in North Korea, including with production marks as recently as 2023, indicating Pyongyang has a “robust acquisition network for its ballistic missile program,” despite international sanctions prohibiting such transfers to the rogue regime.
“Despite nearly two decades of sanctions on the DPRK, it has demonstrated this year its ability to produce and supply ballistic missiles for use against Ukraine within just a matter of months,” he said, using the acronym for North Korea’s official name.
Some parts for North Korean drones and missiles that have been used against Ukraine had components branded from companies in Europe, Japan and the United States.
“Through CAR’s collaborative approach with industry, we have ascertained that these components found in remnants of weapons systems used against Ukraine derived from supplies by third-party distributors, mostly based in East Asia,” Leff said.
Russian, North Korean ambassadors
Russia’s ambassador did not address the transfer of arms from Pyongyang to the Kremlin. Of their deepening relations, Vassily Nebenzia said they are close neighbors and developing relations in “all areas.”
“This is our sovereign right. Russian cooperation with the DPRK at the military and other areas is in accordance with international law, not in violation thereof,” Nebenzia said. “This is not directed against any third countries. It does not pose any threat to states in the region or the international community — and have no doubt, we will continue to develop such cooperation.”
North Korea’s ambassador, Song Kim, said their relations are “a positive contribution to peace and security” and should not be criticized.
Wednesday’s meeting was called by the United States, with support from South Korea, Japan and several Western council members.
Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Washington has information that “a large number of DPRK-origin 170 mm long-range self-propelled artillery pieces and 240 mm long-range multiple rocket launchers” are being introduced into the Ukrainian conflict.
“We also have information that Russia has transferred air defense systems to the DPRK,” she said, indicating what Pyongyang may be getting in return for sending both arms and more than 11,000 troops to assist Moscow.
“And not just any soldiers,” she said. “North Korea sent elite special forces units to Russia.”
She noted that this is the first time that North Korean troops have been deployed in large-scale fighting in more than 70 years, and it is the first time outside the Korean Peninsula.
Ukraine’s ambassador said Russian forces have integrated North Korean troops into joint units in the Kursk region.
“They primarily advance in large numbers on foot across open terrain, and in extended chains,” Sergiy Kyslytsya said. “This approach bears a striking resemblance of infantry tactics employed during World War II but is highly unusual for the Russian-Ukrainian war.”
He said that the North Korean troops do not appear well-trained in modern warfare.
“Available video evidence reveals that North Korean soldiers seem unprepared to react to enemy drones and lack even the basic understanding of measures to counter drone-related threats,” he said, saying the joint units had suffered “noticeable losses.”
