A North Korean ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih, central Ukraine, last month resulted in the death of an entire family, marking a notable escalation in Russia’s use of North Korean weaponry in the ongoing conflict. According to Ukrainian military intelligence, this was the first deployment of a North Korean missile by Russia in over a year, signaling a deepening military and strategic partnership between Moscow and Pyongyang.

Since early August 2026, Russian forces have launched North Korean ballistic missiles against Ukrainian targets on at least two occasions, including attacks on August 11 and August 16. Unconfirmed reports also attribute a missile strike on Kyiv last week, which killed at least 17 people, to these weapons. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has highlighted Ukraine’s challenges in intercepting such missiles, citing a lack of US-supplied Patriot air defense systems.

Relations between Russia and North Korea have accelerated rapidly following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. During a visit to Pyongyang in 2024, Russia’s first since 2000, President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un signed a mutual defense pact. This accord appears to mark a shift from transactional exchanges toward a longer-term strategic alliance, according to Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at Oxford University.

Russian military aid from North Korea includes millions of rounds of ammunition, deployment of North Korean troops to support offensive operations in Russia’s western Kursk region, and laborers filling workforce shortages in Russia. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the Hur, reports that Russia has requested 120 KN-30 ballistic missiles—each reportedly three times more powerful than the KN-23 and KN-24 missiles previously supplied—and several missile launchers along with personnel. The KN-30 is claimed by Pyongyang to have a range exceeding 370 miles and a 2.5-ton warhead capacity.

Military analysts note the increased sophistication of technology transfers, with Samuel Ramani of the Royal United Services Institute describing North Korea’s growing involvement as more impactful than in previous years. However, accuracy remains an issue; the KN-23 missile that struck Kryvyi Rih was reportedly off target by approximately ten miles, according to Major General Vadym Skibitskiy, deputy head of the Hur. Russia had previously halted use of North Korean missiles due to precision problems.

Infrastructure developments between the two countries are expected to facilitate increased transfers of arms and personnel. A new road bridge over the Tumen River, situated just south of the existing Friendship Bridge rail link, is nearing completion. This crossing is anticipated to open officially within weeks.

In exchange for military support, North Korea has gained diplomatic backing from Russia at the United Nations, along with food aid and missile technology. Financial compensation from Russia has bolstered North Korea’s economy, which has grown by more than 3 percent annually since 2023, surpassing growth rates of any G7 nations, according to South Korea’s central bank, though economic benefits remain concentrated in Pyongyang.

Former US national security official Victor Cha observed that Russia’s war in Ukraine provided a significant strategic opportunity for North Korea, offering its troops combat experience and exposure to new warfare technologies such as drones. Kim Jong-un’s regime reportedly values this learning opportunity highly.

While Russia has historically supported sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear program, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently indicated a policy shift, stating Russia no longer pursues “denuclearization” of the Korean Peninsula, citing concerns about North Korea’s sovereignty. Lavrov also described Moscow and Pyongyang as united in advocating for a new global order based on multipolarity and respect for national interests.

Experts like Edward Howell suggest this relationship represents a reversal from the Cold War era when North Korea was heavily dependent on Moscow and Beijing; now, Pyongyang appears to be a valued strategic partner for Russia, with cooperation likely to continue beyond the current conflict in Ukraine.