North Korea’s growing arms alliance with Russia raises tensions
Admiral Samuel Paparo, the commander of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific, reported that North Korea is intensifying its military support for Russia. According to Paparo, Pyongyang has sent "thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands of artillery shells" to Russia.
As reported by Defence Blog, in exchange, North Korea is expected to receive advanced air defense systems, including surface-to-air missile systems. Paparo emphasized that this transaction benefits both countries by complementing each other's deficiencies. His comments surfaced amid concerns about the deepening military cooperation between these regimes.
The exchange between North Korea and Russia
American intelligence officials have confirmed the increasing flow of weapons from North Korea to Russia, and Paparo’s remarks are among the most direct and detailed assessments of this phenomenon by a high-ranking military officer, Defence Blog highlights.
In December 2024, a train convoy was observed in Russia carrying vehicles that resembled launchers for North Korea's Pukguksong-2 ballistic missile. Subsequently, in February 2025, South Korean media reported further arms shipments from North Korea, expected to occur before the end of March. Among these were KN-23 ballistic missiles and 122 mm and 152 mm artillery shells, compatible with Soviet-era systems still used by Russian forces.
Pukguksong-2 and KN-23 are two North Korean short and medium-range ballistic missiles that have attracted significant interest from military experts and the international community in recent years. Both missile systems exemplify North Korea's intense efforts to modernize its arsenal and are an important element of Kim Jong Un's regime’s deterrence strategy.
The Pukguksong-2, also known as KN-15, was first unveiled to the world in February 2017. It is a solid-fueled ballistic missile, marking a significant advancement over earlier North Korean designs based on liquid fuel. The use of solid fuel makes the Pukguksong-2 much more mobile and quicker to launch, making it harder to detect and neutralize before takeoff. The missile is launched from a mobile tracked launcher resembling an armored personnel carrier, further increasing its stealth and operational flexibility.
The Pukguksong-2 likely draws from sea-based missile technology, specifically the Pukguksong-1, which was developed as a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM). Adapting this technology for land-based use allowed for the creation of a system with a range of about 746–808 miles, capable of striking targets in South Korea and Japan. The missile can carry either a conventional or nuclear warhead and has a maneuverable flight trajectory, making it difficult to intercept with missile defense systems.
The KN-23, on the other hand, is a short-range ballistic missile first showcased in May 2019. It has garnered particular interest due to its resemblance to the Russian Iskander missile. Like its Russian counterpart, the KN-23 is characterized by its ability to fly on a quasi-ballistic trajectory – lowered, irregular, and difficult to predict – which significantly complicates interception efforts. The KN-23's range is estimated to be around 249–435 miles, although some tests have indicated the potential for striking targets up to 621 miles away.
This missile also uses solid fuel and is launched from mobile wheeled or tracked launchers. Its design allows for very precise strikes, suggesting the capability to hit specific military targets such as bases, airports, or command centers. Interestingly, the KN-23 has also been tested with a variant carrying a larger warhead, which may indicate an attempt to integrate it with a nuclear warhead of significant destructive power.
