Russia fired a new North Korean missile made this year in a strike on Ukraine, marking a first, researchers say

CAR’s investigation is the latest indication that Russia is using North Korean weapons in Ukraine. Last fall, Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met to discuss a potential arms deal between the two nations. They further solidified this partnership this past May with a mutual defense pact.

South Korea, like the US, has documented large weapons shipments from North Korea to Russia since the war began in 2022.

In exchange for sending Russia ballistic missiles and millions of artillery shells, North Korea has potentially received food, fuel, and possibly the advanced military technologies it desires for nuclear-powered submarines, missiles, and so on. The details, however, are unclear.

The partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang has put the US, South Korea, and also China in precarious situations. The South has been sending ammo to support Ukraine via the US and other channels, fueling tensions with Russia, while Beijing is concerned about losing its influence over its neighbor. The arrangement causes instability.