North Korea did not send its military for free to support Russia in its war against Ukraine. In exchange for the troops, the Kremlin transferred significant amounts of oil, missiles and air defence equipment to the DPRK, which violates UN sanctions. This is stated in a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Oil “deals” between Moscow and Pyongyang

A BBC investigation has found that over the past eight months, more than a million barrels of Russian oil have been shipped to North Korea. At least 12 tankers from the DPRK made 43 trips to a Russian oil terminal in the Far East, arriving empty and departing full.

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that the oil supplies were part of a “settlement” for the weapons and military support provided by the DPRK to Russia.

This violates UN sanctions that restrict fuel exports to North Korea.

Air Defense Systems and Missiles: What Did the DPRK Get?

According to South Korean intelligence, Russia has transferred unspecified anti-aircraft missiles and air defence equipment to North Korea. The type of systems transferred is not specified, but experts assume that these are less modern systems, not S-400s.

ISW analysts point out that Russia’s transfer of modern S-400s to the DPRK would be unprecedented, especially given that Moscow is postponing the supply of such systems to Iran and India. It is more likely that we are talking about outdated anti-aircraft systems or shorter-range gun systems.

North Korean troops on Russian training grounds and the front line

According to ISW, in autumn, North Korea sent more than 10,000 soldiers to Russia. At first, they were trained at training grounds in the Kursk region, and later were involved in hostilities against Ukrainian troops.

It was reported that DPRK units could be located even in Kharkiv region, but this information was denied by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

What does cooperation between Russia and the DPRK mean?

Experts emphasise that such interaction between Moscow and Pyongyang is a violation of international sanctions and evidence of Russia’s growing isolation. The Kremlin is trying to enlist the support of the Kim Jong-un regime by offering strategic resources and military equipment.

“This cooperation indicates a serious crisis in Russia’s relations with its traditional partners and demonstrates the Kremlin’s willingness to violate international obligations in order to maintain its position on the battlefield,” ISW analysts say.