North Korea Starts Mass Drone Production With Russian Support
Pyongyang is upgrading its missile accuracy and building large-scale drone capabilities, shifting the dynamic of military threats in the region.
By Petra Murphy ·
North Korea has begun mass-producing attack drones and improving the precision of its ballistic missiles, a shift driven largely by technical cooperation with Russia. The New York Times reported that Moscow is sharing military data and feedback with Pyongyang in exchange for troops, laborers, and weapons. This arrangement is altering how ordinary citizens in South Korea perceive the immediate threat from their northern neighbor.
The alliance deepened after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since then, North Korea has modernized its armed forces using Russian assistance. In early October, Pyongyang tested a tactical ballistic missile that it claims can carry a nuclear warhead. South Korea and Japan estimated the flight distance at 700 kilometers, while North Korea claimed a range of 1,000 kilometers.
South Korea responded to the test with its own launch of a hypersonic ballistic missile, its first such firing. President Lee Jae Myung observed the test, which occurred five days after the North's launch. The New York Times noted that this direct response signals Seoul's growing unease about the rapid advancement of North Korean missile technology.
Analyst Anton Ponomarenko said that access to Russian deployment data has helped North Korea improve the accuracy and maneuverability of its weapons. He described the threat to South Korea as more substantial as a result. Russia has also assisted Pyongyang in building unmanned systems, with North Korea observing in Ukraine and the Middle East that inexpensive drones can overwhelm expensive air defense systems.
In a military drill last month, North Korea used a drone swarm to attack a target island while cruise and ballistic missiles struck from different directions simultaneously. The New York Times argued that these evolving tactics will force South Korea and its allies to redesign their air defense networks at a high cost.
This reporting follows other accounts of the partnership. Bloomberg reported in September that up to 25,000 North Korean citizens are working at Russian military plants, including facilities in Alabuga, Tatarstan, to produce drones. A North Korean unit equipped with 120 ballistic missiles and six launchers has also begun deploying in western Russia. In June 2026, North Korea announced tests of a modernized 240mm multiple-launch rocket system and a 155mm long-range artillery shell.
