The first batch of Russian Pantsir-S1 launchers, as well as technologies and equipment for the production of attack drones, have already been spotted in North Korea.
This was reported by the head of Ukraine’s defense intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, who spoke with Hromadske Radio.
“This Shahed is like some kind of nomad. It moved from Iran to the Russian Federation, and now from the Russian Federation it has already moved to the DPRK… They are transferring technologies from Russia to North Korea. They are not giving them Shaheds, but they do transfer technologies, equipment, and so on. They are setting up production there,” he noted.
Budanov emphasized that Russia had already transferred technologies for the production of attack drones to the DPRK.
According to the defense intel chief, the production of these attack UAVs will worsen the security environment, “because the DPRK is significantly increasing its military might at the moment.”
“First of all, through direct cooperation with the Russian Federation and through their soldiers acquiring real combat experience. And this cannot but affect the security environment, because in the end, the only real enemy for the DPRK is South Korea. There are no others. And they know it perfectly well,” the head of Ukrainian intelligence added.
At the same time, the GUR chief said Russia had also transferred the Pantsir-S1 systems to the DPRK and is training North Korean soldiers to operate them.
“The first Pantsir-S1 launchers have already appeared in Pyongyang. They are already on combat duty there, guarding their capital. And the Russians are retraining Korean military. Soon the Koreans will be able to autonomously operate this equipment,” he said.
In addition, Budanov noted that more North Korean citizens may be dispatched to Russia soon.
“Of those, a certain number will sign contracts. But it will no longer look like the DPRK deployed soldiers, but that DPRK citizens voluntarily joined the ranks of the Russian armed forces,” he explained.
According to him, the contingent amounts to 12,000 troops.
In addition, the head of the GUR noted that some Chinese citizens are also fighting on Russia’s side against Ukraine.
Source: Russia hands DPRK air defense systems, drone tech – Ukraine’s defense intel chief
