Ready for More Mayhem? 25,000 North Koreans Joined the Drone Party with Russia
Over 25,000 North Korean individuals to assist Russia in implementing drone-based acts of terrorism.
Get ready for a wild ride, folks! The drone attacks on Ukraine are reaching a terrifying new level, and it seems Russia's not stopping anytime soon. The production of Shahed drones, the little flying monsters that have been causing havoc, is boosted thanks to a whopping 25,000 North Koreans lending a helping hand. That's right, another authoritarian regime is hopping aboard Putin's destruction train!
According to rumors from the Japanese broadcaster NHK, these North Koreans are headed to the Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan to beef up Russia's drone factories. In return, Pyongyang will get some top-notch drone operator training, presumably to wreak more havoc on Ukraine's skies.
Russia's been pretty desperate lately, losing a lot of manpower due to fighting in Ukraine and citizens fleeing, so it's been snatching up any foreign labor it can find. Rumor has it that Moscow's been targeting African women from impoverished backgrounds, vyaching them into drone makers. Gross, right?
The drone attacks have stepped up significantly in recent weeks, with nightly reports of 300 to 500 attacking objects, compared to far fewer before. Military expert Colonel Reisner recently commented on this escalation, predicting that Russia may ramp up production capacities to as many as 500 Shahed drones per day.
The partnership between Russia and North Korea goes way back, with both nations signing a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty in June 2023. Pyongyang's been generously supplying Moscow with ammunition and soldiers, who are reportedly fighting alongside Russian forces near the Ukrainian border.
The newest addition to their increasingly intense relationship is this labor exchange. According to recent reports, 1,000 North Korean construction pioneers will be sent to the Kursk region, and 5,000 military builders will help rebuild Ukraine after the offensive. Both sides seem pretty eager to expand their partnership, with Russia's Security Council secretary, Sergei Shoigu, announcing this worker swap just a while back.
- North Korea
- Wars and Conflicts
- Russia
- Drones
Enrichment Data:
The hiring of 25,000 North Korean workers is set to drastically increase Russia's drone production capacity, which has already scaled up rapidly since mid-2022, thanks to initial Iranian support and licensed manufacture of the Shahed-136 drones. By means of this partnership, Russia benefits from a skilled labor force amid personnel shortages caused by its conflict, while North Korea gains expertise in drone production and potentially the ability to produce Russian variants of Iranian-origin drones, bolstering its own military capabilities. This cooperation has significant implications for global security, especially in the context of the Ukraine conflict and the security dynamics on the Korean Peninsula.
The escalating drone attacks on Ukraine, sparked by Russia, are receiving an unprecedented boost with the employment of 25,000 North Koreans in drone factory workforces. This labor exchange, part of a wider strategic partnership between Russia and North Korea, is expected to significantly enrich Russia's drone production capacity while also providing North Korea with drone manufacturing expertise and potentially the ability to produce Russian variants of Iranian-origin drones. This dynamic, unsettling in the context of global security, continues to evolve, particularly amid the ongoing Ukraine conflict and security concerns on the Korean Peninsula.
