North Korea weapons development aided by Russia as both sides push for new five-year military pact

North Korea and Russia are moving to establish a five-year military cooperation plan, raising assessments on April 27 that their relationship has effectively solidified into a “military alliance.”

Russia’s Defense Ministry and the Tass news agency said on April 26 that Defense Minister Andrei Belousov met North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang to discuss expanding military cooperation. Belousov said the two sides agreed to “transition military cooperation to a sustainable long-term foundation” and are prepared to sign a cooperation plan within this year covering the period from 2027 to 2031.

North Korea and Russia signed a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty” in June 2024, establishing what has been described as a “quasi-military alliance.” Under the agreement, if either side faces an attack, the other is required to automatically intervene. The agreement has since been implemented in practice, with North Korea dispatching troops to Russia beginning around October of the same year.

If the new five-year military cooperation plan is formally established, it could mark a turning point toward a firm “military alliance” between the two countries.

Experts say the agreement could shift North Korea-Russia military cooperation beyond short-term transactions toward establishing a permanent supply chain.

Under such a structure, North Korea would continue supplying conventional resources such as artillery shells, missiles and manpower to Russia, while Russia could transfer advanced military technologies to North Korea, including nuclear-powered submarines, reconnaissance satellites and intercontinental ballistic missile reentry technology. Analysts say this could evolve into a standing cooperation system premised on wartime operations.

Such cooperation could also lead to a division of roles based on each country’s strengths, effectively creating a structure for conducting war. North Korea could take on large-scale production of military supplies and troop reinforcement, while Russia provides technology and combat experience.

From South Korea’s perspective, concerns are rising that North Korea’s “war experience” could be reflected in its weapons systems, with those weapons repeatedly tested in real-world use, increasing the level of tangible threat.

Yang Uk, a research fellow at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said, “Setting a five-year plan means that concrete areas of cooperation between the two sides have been established,” adding that North Korea would receive military technology and advanced training from Russia, while Russia would expand its weapons and manpower through North Korea.

There is also the possibility of joint military exercises between the two countries, raising concerns about potential “integration of defense systems.”

Details of the agreement have not yet been disclosed. In particular, North Korea has made no official statements, suggesting that a “full agreement” between the two sides may not yet be finalized.

However, if military cooperation expands to include joint exercises in areas such as the East Sea or near the North Korea-Russia border — similar to the United States–South Korea alliance — and leads to partial sharing of command and control systems, interoperability between the two militaries could increase significantly, potentially marking the early stages of de facto defense integration.

Park Won-gon, a professor of North Korean studies at Ewha Womans University, said cooperation has expanded because both countries’ needs align, and is likely to continue growing.

Such moves by North Korea and Russia appear to reflect a judgment that strengthening ties with each other is more advantageous than creating a turning point through dialogue, such as North Korea-United States talks. It suggests that North Korea may refrain from engaging in dialogue during the terms of the Trump administration and the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Park said, “This agreement is based on the assumption that the current international situation will persist for the long term,” adding that it represents a structural entrenchment of a military alliance rather than short-term cooperation.

Kim Jong Un also signaled a long-term approach to the alliance during his meeting with Belousov, emphasizing the need to deepen exchanges in advanced defense science and technology in line with the strategic alliance and to strengthen the military’s capabilities to a world-class level.