Russia has agreed to help North Korea set up sites on the divided peninsula to manufacture Iranian-designed Shahed drones, a senior Ukrainian intelligence official has said.

Why It Matters

North Korea is heavily supported by Russia and China, and last year became the first country besides Russia and Ukraine to commit combat troops to the war in Eastern Europe. North Korea has also been a major contributor of ammunition and missiles to Russia’s war effort.

International watchers believe Pyongyang is, or will be, receiving economic aid and a hand-up with its weapons development programs, including submarines and ballistic missiles, from Moscow in exchange for munitions, missiles and troops.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un announced a mutual defense pact in June last year, which was signed in November.