25,000 North Korean workers help fuel Russian drone plants

A New York Times report published on October 24 reveals that North Korea has begun mass-producing attack drones with direct technical assistance from Russia. The newspaper states that Moscow is transferring military developments to Pyongyang in exchange for soldiers, workers, and weapons. This trade represents a deepening of the alliance formed after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The most recent test of this cooperation occurred in early October. Pyongyang launched a tactical ballistic missile that it claims can carry a nuclear payload. South Korean and Japanese officials estimated the missile traveled approximately 700 km (430 miles), a figure North Korea disputed by claiming a range of 1,000 km (621 miles). Analyst Anton Ponomarenko noted that access to Russian deployment data has helped improve the accuracy and maneuverability of North Korean weapons. He described the resulting threat to South Korea as "more substantial."

Seoul responded to the launch with a tangible military action rather than its typical diplomatic protest. Five days after the North Korean test, South Korea test-fired its own hypersonic ballistic missile for the first time. President Lee Jae Myung observed the launch, a move the Times interpreted as a sign of growing unease in Seoul regarding the pace of North Korea's technological progress.

The shift in North Korean tactics is driven by observations from the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Pyongyang has noted how inexpensive drones can overwhelm costly air defense systems. In a drill last month, a North Korean drone swarm attacked a target island simultaneously with cruise and ballistic missiles striking from different directions. The Times argued that these combined attacks will force South Korea and its allies to redesign their air defenses at high cost.

This military exchange is supported by a massive workforce. Bloomberg reported in September that Russia is using North Korean citizens to produce military drones at facilities in Alabuga, Tatarstan. Estimates suggest up to 25,000 North Koreans are currently working at Russian military plants. A North Korean missile unit capable of deploying 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers has also begun positioning itself in western Russia.

The partnership builds on earlier requests. Russia asked North Korea in August to supply KN-30 ballistic missiles. 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. These developments mark a continued modernization of North Korean armed forces using Russian assistance.