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Russia Transfers Pantsir Systems and Drone Tech to North Korea, Ukraine Intelligence Warns
Russia has deployed its Pantsir-S1 air defense systems in Pyongyang and provided North Korea with equipment and technology for producing Shahed-type attack drones, stated head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) Kyrylo Budanov in his interview dedicated to latest updates on July 1.
Budanov indicated that North Korea had received its first Russian Pantsir-S1 surface-to-air missile systems, stressing that Moscow provided the machinery, know-how and production capacity rather than ready-made Shahed drones—a transfer he warned would exacerbate security risks on the Korean Peninsula.
He noted that Russian specialists were training North Korean personnel to operate the systems, which were already on combat duty protecting Pyongyang, and said that the Koreans would soon be operating the new equipment independently.
Budanov also revealed plans for up to 12,000 North Korean citizens to sign contracts as volunteers with the Russian armed forces and deploy to Ukraine—a measure designed to mask the official nature of Pyongyang’s military assistance.
He cautioned that supplying both advanced air defense capabilities and drone-production technology would intensify regional tensions, given that North Korea’s sole genuine adversary remained South Korea.
Earlier, Moscow agreed to share advanced space and satellite technologies with Pyongyang in exchange for arms and equipment, boosting North Korea’s reconnaissance and communications capabilities while deepening defense cooperation and raising concerns among regional partners.
