North Korea has reportedly been shipping its latest nuclear-capable missiles to Russia, according to recent reports. The missiles in question are believed to be from the Hwasong-11 range, a new breed of ballistic missiles that are easily concealed, swiftly deployed, and hard to intercept. These missiles have the capability to accurately hit targets with a high degree of precision, making them difficult to shoot down.
The transfer of these missiles to Russia is expected to provide significant compensation to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The estimated cost of each missile is around $5 million. The exchange between North Korea and Russia reportedly involves Moscow supplying weapons, cash, and commodities to North Korea, which is currently suffering under international sanctions. This is seen as an attempt to bolster North Korea’s economy.
The missiles have a range of 400-800 kilometers, which could potentially increase Russia’s arsenal for attacking Ukraine. This comes as the conflict initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2022 enters its third year. The United States has asserted that Russia used North Korean-supplied missiles in at least two attacks on Ukraine in late December and early January. White House spokesman John Kirby has stated that Russia plans to continue using these missiles in the coming weeks.
Despite the Biden administration’s plans to address these developments at the United Nations Security Council, it remains uncertain whether effective measures can be taken to halt the illicit trade between North Korea and Russia. The transfer of these missiles raises concerns about the potential escalation of tensions in the region.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been prioritizing the ramping up of missile production and mobile launchers. This could potentially increase the number of missiles that North Korea can fire in a first strike or retaliatory strike on South Korea and Japan. These developments follow North Korea’s recent military activities, including the firing of over 200 rounds of coastal artillery. South Korea has issued evacuation orders for civilians on Yeonpyeong Island in response to these actions, which violate the 2018 Inter-Korean Military Agreement.
Earlier this year, Kim announced North Korea’s intention to launch three additional spy satellites and reaffirmed that South Korea is no longer a partner for reunification. These escalations indicate a further strain on international relations and heightened tensions in the Korean Peninsula.
The transfer of nuclear-capable missiles from North Korea to Russia raises serious concerns about the potential destabilization of the region. It is important for the international community to address this issue and take effective measures to prevent further escalation of tensions.
