[Exclusive] Ahead of Kim Jong Un's Visit to Russia, North Korea Resumes Arms Trading Website Operations

‘Glocom’ in Malaysia Resumes Operations
North Korea Seeks Foreign Currency Through Overseas Exports of Military Communication Systems

As North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is reportedly set to visit Russia as early as next week to meet with President Vladimir Putin and discuss arms deals, it has been confirmed that North Korea’s previously blocked arms trading website has recently resumed operations. Analysts interpret this as North Korea openly violating United Nations Security Council sanctions prohibiting arms trade and actively beginning weapons exports.

According to intelligence authorities on September 6, North Korea has resumed operations of ‘Global Communications’ (hereafter referred to as Glocom), a company based in Malaysia that sells military equipment. Glocom is reportedly managed by North Korea’s Reconnaissance General Bureau and sells a tactical command and control automation (C4I) system developed by North Korea.

C4I is a system that integrates all military forces and enables operational command and control through computers and wired and wireless communications. Related products include naval and air force systems, battlefield management information systems (BMS), and encryption equipment. In a report submitted to the UN Security Council in 2017, the UN Panel of Experts monitoring sanctions against North Korea revealed that Glocom maintained an office in Singapore and used Chinese suppliers to sell North Korean military communications equipment to Eritrea in Africa, before being detected.

However, in February of the same year, when Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of Kim Jong Un, was assassinated with VX nerve agent at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, the North Korean Reconnaissance General Bureau was identified as being behind the attack. As a result, the Malaysian government revoked Glocom’s business registration. The Malaysian government also canceled the business registration of ‘International Golden Services,’ a North Korean company operating locally.

Intelligence authorities believe that, in addition to Glocom, North Korea is increasing the number of overseas arms trading companies disguised under different nationalities and names to earn foreign currency. With Kim Jong Un reportedly planning to visit Russia soon to discuss arms support with President Putin, it is expected that North Korea will accelerate its weapons exports. Previously, the US government stated that, following Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu’s visit to North Korea and the exchange of letters between Kim Jong Un and President Putin, negotiations on arms deals between North Korea and Russia are progressing.

Depending on the outcome of these arms negotiations, the Russian military may receive a significant quantity and variety of ammunition from North Korea for use in the war in Ukraine. In return for supplying the ammunition and anti-tank missiles that Russia wants, North Korea is expected to request the transfer of advanced technologies related to satellites and nuclear-powered submarines, as well as food aid. Reconnaissance satellites and nuclear-powered submarines are among the five major strategic weapons that Kim Jong Un ordered to be completed by 2026 at the Workers’ Party of Korea Congress in January 2021, but North Korea has not yet achieved these goals.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.