North Korea Set to Supply Military Drones to U.S. Adversaries

North Korea plans to export military drones to U.S. adversaries, including Iran and possibly Russia, despite international sanctions. Kim Jong Un has prioritized increased drone production and developed methods to evade detection. The drones are manufactured for reconnaissance and combat purposes, with efforts to obscure shipment routes. As these developments unfold, the potential consequences for UN sanctions and regional security are significant.

North Korea is poised to commence the shipment of military drones to adversaries of the United States, including Iran and its allied factions, as highlighted in a recent report. This initiative comes despite enduring international sanctions that aim to restrict North Korea’s arms trade. Newsweek attempted to obtain comments from the North Korean embassy in China but did not receive a response outside of office hours.

The significance of this development lies in North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s directive from November, which called for the “full-scale production as soon as possible” of military drones. To bolster relations with select international partners and generate foreign currency, North Korea has devised increasingly sophisticated methods to bypass detection amidst sanctions imposed by the United Nations intended to limit its nuclear and ballistic missile initiatives.

Reports indicate that Russia may be a potential recipient of these drones, as the United States and South Korea assert that the nation has already received a vast quantity of North Korean munitions to aid its military endeavors in Ukraine. According to a high-ranking North Korean official, inspections of drones designated for export commenced on March 7, with those passing the inspections slated for immediate dispatch.

Potential destinations for these drones include Iran, Syria, Yemen’s Houthi rebels, militant groups across Africa, and reportedly, Russia. The drones are being produced in a factory located in North Pyongan Province, encompassing reconnaissance and loitering suicide unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Plans are reportedly in place to ensure these shipments avoid international attention by sending UAV components separately via different routes for assembly upon arrival.

In efforts to further obscure their operations, North Korea is reportedly utilizing untraceable cryptocurrency transactions, such as bitcoin and ethereum, while also conducting operations through front companies located in different countries to create complex payment structures.

Vann Van Diepen, a former U.S. State Department expert in weapons of mass destruction, noted that “As with other conventional weapons, Pyongyang might try to compete on price, but it is unclear if it would be able to charge much less than other non-Western suppliers with established production lines.”

The implications of these shipments on United Nations enforcement mechanisms and the responses from regional partners, including the U.S., remain uncertain. There’s concern that the recent dismantling of the U.N. sanctions review panel on North Korea by Russia could hinder enforcement efforts, potentially allowing North Korea greater freedom to accelerate its arms exports.

In summary, North Korea’s intent to export military drones to U.S. adversaries underlines a strategic move to fortify alliances and generate revenue, while circumventing international sanctions. The potential acquisition by nations like Iran and Russia raises significant security concerns in the geopolitical landscape. The implications of these developments on global arms control measures and UN enforcement capabilities warrant close scrutiny going forward.

Original Source: www.newsweek.com