Russia receives military support from Iran and North Korea in exchange for economic benefits — ISW

The Russian Federation continues to deepen bilateral relations with Iran and North Korea in exchange for lethal assistance to its military for use against Ukraine. To date, Pyongyang has already handed over millions of projectiles to Russia and Tehran — many Shahed-type kamikaze attack drones.

Rubryka writes about this, referring to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report.

As noted by American military analysts, such cooperation significantly increased the budgets of both Kremlin allies.

Iran's state-run Mehr News Agency reported that Tehran will launch its Hod Hod and Kosar satellites into low Earth orbit from an unspecified Russian station in October 2024.

It also became known about Russia's intention to raise the level of bilateral relations with Iran by concluding a corresponding agreement, which the aggressor has already signed with North Korea.

Bloomberg reported how the North Korean economy is reviving after a three-year slump due to Russia's war against Ukraine. Specifically, the Bank of the Republic of South Korea estimated North Korea's gross domestic product (GDP) to grow by 3.1% in 2023, compared to 2022, after an annual contraction since 2019.

According to his estimates, North Korea's heavy and chemical industry, particularly the production of iron, steel, copper, nickel, and aluminum, will grow the most in 2023—by 8.1%.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik previously said Russia's supply of food to Pyongyang in exchange for arms helped the regime of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un stabilize prices and probably stimulated domestic production in the country.

"North Korea handed Russia about 4.8 million artillery shells, and Iran supplied it with Shahed-136/131 drones and their components," ISW recalled.

The United States previously said that Russia's cooperation with North Korea is a cause for concern, but for now, Washington simply continues to observe the development of interaction between the two dictatorial countries.

We will remind you that analysts reported that in July of this year, North Korea will send military construction and engineering forces to participate in "restoration works" in the occupied Donetsk region. It was noted that they will participate in the so-called restoration works starting July 2024.

On July 2, the Pentagon stated that they currently see no signs of engineering troops being sent from North Korea to the Russian Federation, which will later be used on the occupied territory of Ukraine.

However, North Korea sent a delegation of its elite military to the Russian Federation. This was the first visit of North Korean soldiers to Russia after the cooperation agreement between Moscow and Pyongyang.

The Russian Federation also plans to send children to North Korea for holidays. The first group will leave at the end of July.