North Korea is set to export military drones to adversaries like Iran and Russia, despite international sanctions. The regime is accelerating production while employing sophisticated methods to avoid detection. Inspections for export began on March 7, targeting an array of international partners. Experts express concern over pricing competitiveness and the implications for global arms control.
North Korea is reportedly preparing to export military drones to U.S. adversaries like Iran and its proxy forces, as highlighted in a recent report. Despite long-standing international sanctions aimed at limiting its arms trade, Pyongyang has accelerated the production of these drones. Newsweek reached out to the North Korean embassy in China for commentary, but the inquiry was sent outside of official hours.
In November, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un directed his government to accelerate full-scale drone production. This initiative is intended to bolster relationships with its limited international partners and generate foreign currency. The country has increasingly developed sophisticated methods for evading detection amidst U.N. sanctions that seek to limit its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
One potential recipient of these drones is Russia, which is reported to have received substantial shipments of North Korean munitions to support its military actions in Ukraine. Inspections for export-ready drones began on March 7, with passing units slated for immediate shipment, according to a high-ranking North Korean official who spoke to Daily NK.
The drones are being manufactured in North Pyongan Province and include reconnaissance and loitering suicide unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). To avoid international scrutiny, North Korea’s strategy involves shipping drone components via different routes to assemble them after arrival, a tactic previously employed in clandestine arms exports. Furthermore, the country reportedly prefers untraceable cryptocurrency transactions and conducts operations through front companies to obscure payment structures.
Vann Van Diepen, a former U.S. State Department expert on weapons of mass destruction, expressed concerns, stating, “As with other conventional weapons, Pyongyang might try to compete on price… It is unclear if it would be able to charge much less than other non-Western suppliers.”
The potential international response to these shipments remains uncertain. Nonetheless, the recent dismantling of the U.N. sanctions review panel by Russia may reduce enforcement capabilities, thereby facilitating North Korea’s evasion of international scrutiny and the expansion of its arms exports.
In summary, North Korea is intensifying its military drone production with plans to export these technologies to nations including Iran and Russia. This underscores the ongoing challenge of ensuring enforcement of international sanctions amidst evolving tactics employed by Pyongyang to circumvent regulatory measures. The international community must remain vigilant in addressing these developments to prevent further proliferation of military capabilities among U.S. adversaries.
Original Source: www.newsweek.com
