NDC Outlook 03-2026, Strategy Series, by Giangiuseppe Pili, Cosimo Meneguzzo and Roman Kolodii 1
Summary
Russia and North Korea have set up an extensive system for transshipments of strategic goods, such as military materiel for Russia and oil and food for North Korea.
Between September 2023 and February 2024, North Korea delivered munitions and rockets worth between USD 4.3 billion and USD 4.8 billion to Russia.
Both countries can be expected to maintain their cooperation in the short to medium term. North Korea will provide Russia with military supplies and labour, while Russia will supply petroleum products, minerals, fertilizers and possibly nuclear and military know-how.
NATO and its member states would be well advised to cooperate more closely with regional enforcement eff orts via the Indo-Pacifi c Four (IP4).
NDC Public Affairs Office
Giangiuseppe Pili
Assistant professor, Intelligence Analysis Program, James Madison University, and Senior Non-Resident Associate Fellow, NATO Defense College
Cosimo Meneguzzo
Società Italiana di Storia Militare
Roman Kolodii
Assistant Professor, Institute of International Studies, FSV, Charles University
Collège de Défense de l'OTAN