North Korea has been largely isolated in the international conjuncture due to its isolation from the global system and its stance against the West, the United States of America (USA) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). This causes North Korea’s name to be mentioned very often with illegal activities. The allegations that Pyongyang secretly supplied weapons to Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine War are among the controversial activities in which North Korea is mentioned.
On the other hand, on December 22, 2022, the White House made a statement regarding North Korea. In the statement, it was emphasized that Wagner Group, a Russian private military company, purchased weapons from North Korea to be sent to Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, John Kirby, said in a statement on the subject that US intelligence officials determined that North Korea completed its first arms shipment, including rockets and missiles, in November 2022.[1]
As a matter of fact, North Korea produces new and updated versions of the weapon and ammunition systems left over from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). However, Pyongyang has a serious capacity to manufacture both nuclear weapons and Long-Range Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles (ICBMs). It can be thought that this situation makes North Korea attractive for Russia in terms of arms supply.
In addition to all these, it can be said that Pyongyang and Moscow have a close political relationship. Because this closeness also strengthens those claims. Both countries are currently close to each other in terms of foreign policy production due to both their opposition to the Western-centered system and their marginalization by the international community. Trying to isolate both states through sanctions is also an important factor in the formation of this intimacy.
After the allegations were made, Russian businessman Evgeny Prigojin described Kirby’s statements that Pyongyang supplied Wagner with weapons as “speculation”. Prigojin stated that North Korea has not delivered any weapons to Russia for a long time.[2]
At this point, it can be deduced from Prigojin’s statements that Pyongyang supplied weapons to Moscow in the past due to its “long-standing” rhetoric. As a matter of fact, the allegations that Russia bought weapons from North Korea and Iran in the past have come to the fore strongly, but the parties have denied these allegations. However, in a statement he made in November 2022, Iranian Foreign Minister Hussein Emir Abdullahiyan admitted that Tehran had given unmanned aerial vehicles to Moscow before the war.[3] As a matter of fact, this reinforces the allegations that North Korea, which is the target of those allegations and also the state that denies these allegations, also supplies weapons to Russia. Therefore, Prigojin’s statements can be considered as a confession.
It can be said that this situation will bring about an increase in the pressure on both Russia and North Korea. Because North Korea, especially because it is antagonized by Western states and is perceived as a significant nuclear threat, there may be a hardening of sanctions imposed on Russia.
On the other hand, a discourse has been developed in the USA that the countries that supported Moscow during the Russia-Ukraine War chose their side within the scope of the war. Therefore, the pressure on North Korea may increase due to the developments in Ukraine. In particular, it can be predicted that the arms support provided by the Western states such as Wagner to a highly controversial group will harden the process of isolating Pyongyang.
As a result, it is known that Russia faced many problems in the field during the Ukraine War and these problems are increasing day by day. Because North Korea is an actor that threatens global and regional security due to both the ballistic missile tests it carries out and the nuclear threat it creates. As a result of this situation in Pyongyang, various exercises are held in the Asia-Pacific region in partnership with the USA, Japan and South Korea. However, North Korea is able to overcome the sanctions pressure imposed on it by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), thanks to Russia and China. For this reason, it can be predicted that the parties cooperate in the face of both global and regional challenges and will further this cooperation. Therefore, it is natural that the allegations that there is a secret arms supply between North Korea and Russia come to the fore.
[1] “White House: Russia’s Wagner Received Arms From North Korea”, AP News, https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-business-north-korea-e6a068d91bc9828ecadfb67c929a4162, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[2] “Пригожин отверг заявления США о поставках оружия КНДР для ЧВК “Вагнер”, TACC, https://tass.ru/politika/16671043, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
[3] “Iran Admits Providing Drones to Russia but Denies Involvement in Ukraine”, Politico, https://www.politico.eu/article/iran-russia-drone-war-ukraine-hossein-amirabdollahian/, (Date of Accession: 28.12.2022).
