Park Wongon "Russia Has Never Transferred Advanced Weapon System Technology Even to Allies"

"Didn't Give Airplanes to China Either"
"Urgent Needs Are Food, Energy, and Fertilizer"

Kim Jong-un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, who visited Russia for the first time in four years, raised the possibility of technology transactions involving intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and nuclear-powered submarines during his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the 13th. However, Park Won-gon, a security expert and professor of North Korean Studies at Ewha Womans University, expressed skepticism, stating, "Historically, Russia has never transferred advanced weapon system technology since the Soviet era."

On the 13th, Professor Park said on YTN's "News King with Park Ji-hoon," "No matter how close the ally, they did not provide it. Even to China, which was the closest during the Korean War, they said they would provide fighter jets but did not."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

From North Korea's perspective, the possibility of demanding ICBM technology and nuclear-powered submarine technology is high, but considering past cases, the likelihood of Russia handing these over is low. He said, "There is definitely a possibility that North Korea will make such requests," adding, "Because from North Korea's standpoint, among the five core nuclear weapons mentioned at the 8th Party Congress in 2021, there is a nuclear-powered submarine."

While North Korea does possess Russian weapon systems, it is explained that this was achieved through reverse engineering rather than direct provision. Professor Park said, "Rather than Russia supporting them, North Korea acquired such weapon systems through other routes and produced these weapons through reverse engineering," adding, "A representative example is the short-range ballistic missile KN23, which North Korea claims to have. Its prototype is Russia's Iskander missile, but it does not seem that Russia directly supported it."

The possibility of receiving food, energy, and fertilizers is high. Professor Park said, "The most urgent needs now are food, energy, and fertilizers, all of which are items exported by Russia," adding, "I think North Korea might want compensation in those areas, but the problem is that it would violate UN sanctions and international law."

There is also speculation that the North Korea-Russia summit could solidify the structure of the US-Japan-South Korea alliance versus the North Korea-China-Russia bloc. However, Professor Park said, "China's position is somewhat complicated," adding, "Currently, North Korea and Russia are clearly cooperating, but whether China will join in is something we need to watch." China is drawing a line on the Ukraine war while watching Europe, and if it becomes too close to North Korea and Russia, it could create an uncomfortable situation.

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