Signal North Korea and Russia form an alliance as North Korean troops deploy to the Ukraine war

Summary

In 2024 North Korea went beyond strengthening military cooperation with Russia and concluded an alliance with it. Pyongyang appears to be seeking not only economic support but also advanced weapons technology for intercontinental and submarine-launched nuclear missiles. It has dispatched around ten thousand soldiers to the war in Ukraine, and both governments have officially acknowledged the deployment as policy based on their alliance. Russia now calls North Korea a blood ally, hinting that ties will grow into a strong alliance rather than short-term cooperation of convenience. The report expects military pressure on neighboring countries to rise further as North Korea's own capabilities grow and its security ties with China and Russia deepen.