The Ukrainian side recently noted that in a number of attacks on it, Russian forces used long-range missiles against North Korea. Specifically, the missile was identified as the Hwasong-11 ballistic missile manufactured by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. The Security Service of Ukraine announced that the move was discovered in the course of an investigation, and that the attacks killed at least 24 civilians and injured more than 100. The news that a logistics line is being established between North Korea and Russia has attracted widespread attention on the social platform Telegram and has been reported internationally through various channels.
Russian forces reportedly used these North Korean missiles in airstrikes against Ukraine at various points in time, including an attack on Zaporizhzhia on December 30, 2023, an airstrike on Kyiv in January 2024, and strikes on targets near the Kharkiv and Donetsk fronts. This use of ** has not only aggravated the situation in Ukraine, but also triggered a wide discussion in the international community about military cooperation and the military ** chain.
A report published by the Conflict Study (CAR) further complicates the situation. According to their analysis of the wreckage of the missiles used in the Kharkiv air strikes, it was found that the missile components contained a large number of components of foreign brands, especially American brands, produced in recent years. The discovery exposes how, despite facing long-term U.N. sanctions, North Korea has been able to obtain materials internationally to advance its missile program by building a robust procurement network.
This situation not only reveals North Korea's dependence on foreign high-tech components, but also exposes loopholes in the international sanctions system. Although the international community has long imposed various sanctions aimed at restricting the DPRK from developing its best programs, the above facts show that such sanctions have not completely prevented the DPRK from establishing a global procurement network and continuing to advance the development of its missiles and other military equipment.
It is noteworthy that the United States has already commented on this. John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House committee, mentioned at a press conference that Russian forces "used North Korean-made missiles in at least two attacks." Such public statements not only confirm the fact that North Korea has provided ** to Russia, but also further exacerbate the international community's concern about such military cooperation.
A number of important issues of international relations and global governance can be seen from these events. First, although international sanctions are a common and sometimes effective policy tool, there are many challenges and limitations in practice. Especially in the context of globalization, how individual countries can skillfully bypass sanctions and implement international procurement without being discovered by the international community has become a question worthy of study.
Second, this form of military cooperation between Russia and North Korea not only draws attention to its implications for the security of Ukraine and other regions, but also shows how new forces and alliances affect the international balance behind the scenes in the global military-political landscape. To some extent, this partnership demonstrates how power and interests flow and redistribute between different countries in the international system.
Finally, this series of events also reminds us that the resolution of international problems and conflicts requires more detailed and comprehensive international cooperation. In today's increasingly globalized world, countries are interdependent, and the actions of any one country may affect the entire international community. Therefore, the international community needs to work together to continuously improve the international sanctions system, strengthen international laws and regulations, and establish a more efficient and transparent supervision and enforcement mechanism to prevent such transactions and military cooperation from posing a threat to global peace and security.