Moscow Data: Pyongyang Mass-Produces Drones

North Korea has begun mass-producing attack drones while continuing to refine its ballistic missile program, a shift driven by deepening military ties with Russia.

The New York Times reported that Moscow is transferring military developments to Pyongyang in exchange for soldiers, workers, and weapons. In early October, North Korea tested a tactical ballistic missile it claims can carry a nuclear payload. South Korean and Japanese estimates placed the flight distance at approximately 700 kilometers, while Pyongyang asserted a range of 1,000 kilometers.

South Korea responded to the test five days later by firing its own hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time. President Lee Jae Myung observed the launch, which The New York Times characterized as a sign of growing unease in Seoul regarding the speed of North Korean technological progress. Analyst Anton Ponomarenko stated that access to Russian deployment data and feedback has allowed North Korea to improve the accuracy and maneuverability of its weapons, making the threat to South Korea "more substantial."

Russia has also assisted in building North Korea's unmanned systems capabilities. The newspaper noted that Pyongyang has observed in Ukraine and the Middle East how inexpensive drones can overwhelm costly air defense systems. During a drill last month, a drone swarm attacked a target island while cruise and ballistic missiles struck from different directions simultaneously.

Bloomberg reported in September that up to 25,000 North Korean citizens are working at Russian military plants, notably in Alabuga, Tatarstan, to produce military drones. A North Korean missile forces unit, capable of deploying 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers for strikes against Ukraine, has also begun positioning itself in western Russia. Ukraine previously reported that Russia requested KN-30 ballistic missiles in August.

In June 2026, North Korea announced tests of a modernized 240mm multiple-launch rocket system, a tactical ballistic missile, and a 155mm long-range artillery shell. The New York Times argued that these evolving tactics will force South Korea and its allies to redesign their air defenses at significant cost.