Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea's leader Kim Jong-un smile together in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Photo via AP, File)
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and North Korea’s leader Kim Jong-un smile together in Pyongyang, North Korea, on June 19, 2024. (Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Photo via AP, File)
North Korea’s backing of Russia in the Ukraine war is paying off, with Pyongyang receiving technical and intelligence assistance as thanks, a former CIA official told Threat Status.
In an interview for the Threat Status Influencer series, retired CIA officer Daniel N. Hoffman said the intensity of the Ukraine-Russia war has forced members of the “axis of tyranny” to integrate their economies and intelligence apparatuses.
Mr. Hoffman added that, while Russia has been hurt by the war, its allies have benefited handsomely.
“Putin has suffered massive, hundreds of thousands of casualties, spilled a lot of blood and treasure,” Mr. Hoffman told Threat Status. “But he’s successfully swiveled in the direction … to China, where Russia exports their hydrocarbons to Iran, where they receive drones. And of course, Iran now has a drone factory inside Russia, and they’re getting a lot of artillery and soldiers they’re using as cannon fodder from North Korea.”
Mr. Hoffman singled out North Korea as a beneficiary of Russia’s need for new allies following the 2022 Ukraine invasion. North Korea has sent missiles, artillery pieces, ammunition and upward of 11,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian troops.
“Russia’s kind of brought North Korea out of the cold diplomatically, so they’re not as isolated as they once were. Kim Jong-un traveled to Russia to meet with Vladimir Putin. They’ve hosted Russian senior officials,” Mr. Hoffman said. “So that’s one thing. Secondly, the technology that they need for their military dual-use technology, it’s not a surprise that Putin and Kim Jong-un met at a Russian space facility.”
Specifically, Mr. Hoffman noted the support Russia is providing to North Korea’s ballistic missile program, a long-standing strategic interest of Pyongyang. North Korea is also likely receiving support for its drone program. This week, Mr. Kim oversaw tests of AI-powered suicide drones.
“The field of unmanned equipment and artificial intelligence should be top-prioritized and developed in modernizing the armed forces,” North Korean state-run media quoted Mr. Kim as saying about the drone program.
The further connectivity of U.S. rivals is an existential threat to national security, Mr. Hoffman insisted, adding that any peace deal that ends the war in Ukraine but doesn’t ensure a lasting peace could embolden the axis.
“If we end it in such a way that Putin is the winner or that Ukraine is unable to defend themselves going forward and Putin is able to launch a follow-on attack in a year or two and destroy Ukraine, well, that’s only going to enhance that connectivity between those four countries,” Mr. Hoffman told Threat Status. “And that’s got really grave consequences for us in the Pacific as well, because China will see opportunity, perhaps, to launch on Taiwan. So the axis could be stronger coming out of this if this is done incorrectly.”
Mr. Hoffman’s comments come as peace talks among the U.S., Ukraine and Russia are ongoing. Russia and Ukraine recently agreed to a limited ceasefire, though both sides have accused the other of violating the agreement with strikes.
President Trump has sparked outrage from some in the international community who say he sides with Mr. Putin. Earlier this month, the White House paused foreign aid to Ukraine following a contentious Oval Office meeting between Mr. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The U.S. resumed aid a week later after Russia and Ukraine agreed to the 30-day ceasefire.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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