Russia hands over air defense systems to DPRK in exchange for soldiers

22 November, 2024 Russian army's S-300 air defense system during exercises. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense Russia has supplied North Korea with air defense systems and missiles in exchange for sending North Korean troops to participate in the war against Ukraine.

South Korean National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik stated this, Yonhap reports. The Russian Federation also supplies oil to the DPRK and provides various economic support, as well as probably sharing military technologies. "Previously, Russia provided air defense equipment and missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's vulnerable air defense system," he said, answering the question of what the DPRK received for sending its troops to Russia to participate in the war against Ukraine.

He also noted that the DPRK had received "various forms of economic support" from Russia.

The military of the DPRK (North Korea) on parade. Photo credits: kcna.kp

North Korea might also have received "various forms of economic support" and possibly even Russian military technology for its troubled reconnaissance satellite program, Shin said. "We believe there was also economic assistance in various forms," the adviser said.

The DPRK also received more than a million barrels of oil from Russia during the first 8 months of this year. This is evidenced by the data of the British research center Open Source Center, reported by the BBC. An analysis of satellite images shared by the research center with journalists shows that from March to November 2024, more than a dozen North Korean tankers made 43 routes between a Russian oil terminal in the Far East and their ports.

North Korean (DPRK) tanker.

Photo credits: BBC

All vessels arrived in Russia empty and returned loaded with oil. It was noted that the tankers had been moving with their tracking systems turned off, which had concealed their movements. Previously, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi said in an interview with Ukrainian Radio that the DPRK had already transferred at least 3.5 million pieces of artillery ammunition and other weapons to Russia for the war against Ukraine.

As of the beginning of October, about ten thousand military personnel were sent from North Korea to Russia to participate in the war.

The Ukrainian intelligence claims that the Defense Forces have already engaged in combat with the North Korean troops in the Kursk region.