North Korea overtakes Iran as Russia’s partner of choice

North Korea not only supplies Russia labor and missiles. He is being integrated deep in the War Economy of Russia, sending thousands of workers to the heart of their drone industry and remodeling the balance of power in Eurasia.

This month, the War Zone (TWZ) reported that 25000 North Korean workers are sent to the special economic zone of Alabuga de Russia in Tatarstán to help with the manufacture of Shahed drones, part of the Secretary of Security of Security of TeoigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeigeEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEGEEG. Visionigigigeigeigeiged Pyongyang.

Satellite images reveal a new bedroom construction at the Alabuga site, indicating Russia’s intention to increase drone production from 2,000 to 5,000 units per month.

The Lieutenant General of Ukrainian Intelligence, General Kylo Budanov, confirmed this development, citing the growing cooperation between Russia and North Korea and warning of strategic implications for both Korea and South Korea. He added that some North Korean workers can be hired in the Russian Defense Service.

The Alabuga plant, repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian strikes, remains a critical node in the ability to attack Russia, partly in the middle of a high wear of its war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Russia is helping North Korea to improve the accuracy of the KN-23 missiles, long-range air-Aire-Aire ammunition and the systems launched by submarines. The transfer of work and technology underlines the adjustment of bilateral military ties as both regimes confront isolation and intensify global scrutiny.

Russia may be changing its association or convenience of Iran to North Korea. While they will go staggered under the Israeli and US Air attacks. And those not complied with the Russian arms agreements, North Korea advances, embeding ITELF in the Russian war machine and the strategy of the Far East.

While Russia and Iran have a long history of distrust and conflict, their mutual disdain for the international order dominated by the west, the autocratic governments and the economies very sanctioned after the invasion of Ukraine of the previous one have placed them on the same ship.

Iran has tried to make it indispensable for Russia’s war effort by supplying Shahed drones, tactical equipment and artillery in exchange for income and to avoid diplomatic isolation. It may also have sought Russian investment in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INTC).

However, as Russia transition to a war economy and began to produce Shahed drones locally, Iran’s leverage may have decreased, undermining the efforts of the letter to extract guarantees of safety or financial support from the first.

In addition, although Iran has constantly requested advanced Russian teams, such as Su-35 combat aircraft, these deliveries have not yet materialized, since Russia may need fighters more urgently in their conflict with Ukraine.

In October 2024, Israel destroyed the precious missile launches (SAM) of Iran S-300 (SAM), leaving the latter exposed to current air attacks. While Iran has minimized the need to buy the most advanced S-400 in Russia, citing the higher capabilities of their domestic systems, this could be a cover-up for Russia’s refusal to provide such systems for the same reason why he has retained the SU-35 combatants.

However, Israeli blows on Iran have mixed implications for Russia. On the one hand, although such strikes may have undermined Russia as a credible partner, attacks on Iranian oil and gas infrastructure can eliminate Iran as a competitor of Russian energy exports.

However, these profits can be short. Israel admits that its strikes are not enough to destroy Iran’s nuclear program and that the goal is to press Iran again to negotiations.

In addition, it is unknown how they would answer later. An Iran with nuclear weapons can undermine Russia’s influence. Russia can have less influence on an Iran armed with nuclear weapons, which causes a Middle East nuclear arms race, with Saudi Arabia emphasizing that it will develop nuclear weapons if Iran gets the bomb.

Despite this possible long -term setback, Israeli attacks can distract the United States of Ukraine, attracting attention and resources to face Russia. It also allows Russia to point out the “double scratches” of the United States, with the United States by distanceing Itelf from Israeli combat operations in Gaza while supporting Israeli strikes in Iran that have acquired civil victims.

As Iran opens under the Israelis and now the United States, North Korea is entering the rape, presenting a completely different set of nuances.

North Korea and Russia share deep links that date back to the Korean war, and the old nuclear arsenal possibly makes it a safer investment in the long term for liter. North Korea gave his role in Russia’s war effort, providing matériel and labor while harvesting ideas of combat, hard currency and access to advanced systems.

North Korea’s interest in supporting Russia in Ukraine can be to reduce its excessive dependence in China, its main political and economic lifeguards, to maintain strategic autonomy and regime’s survival.

These objectives can collide with China’s objective to maintain stability in the Korean peninsula. Arguffy, North Korea missile tests represent a threat to China for both Japan and South Korea, which leads China to threaten to reduce political and economic ties with North Korea.

For these purposes, North Korea is active developing nuclear delivery systems with a possible Russian assistance, such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) that could reach the submarine of ballistic and nuclear missiles in the United States.

While a Beligent North Korea serves the mutual interest of China and Russia in undermining the international order dominated by the West, it remains uncertain if the alignment in times of war will evolve to a lasting association once weapons are silent.

Although Russia is strongly sanctioned, it still seeks to resume trade with the United States, which raises doubts about the long-term growth of North Russia-Corea relations.

However, beyond the Russian-Ukraine War, Russia can North Korea as a lever against the growing presence of China, economic influence and territorial ambitions in the Russian East, the state of China’s economic, political and military ties.

In turn, North Korea maintains its autonomy by balancing ties between Russia and China, and its nuclear arsenal provides strategic support against regime change.

With Iran marginalized and the shadow of China in growth, North Korea is quickly becoming the most dangerous and dependible ally of Russia, feeding its war machine, fortifying its eastern flank and the strategic balance of the inclination in favor of Russia.