The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence directorate (HUR) Kyrylo Budanov said that North Korea is being given the ability to produce Shahed-type drones – the same long-range loitering munitions that have been a persistent threat to Ukraine. Russia now produces around 2,000 Shaheds per month with plans to increase output to 5,000, while continually improving their range, payload, connectivity, and strike tactics.
In an interview with The War Zone Budanov says the ability to produce the Shahed family of drones, in particular, which has been the most prolific long-range aerial threat to Ukraine since 2022, is being given to North Korea.”
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According to Budanov, there are already agreements in place to begin establishing production capabilities for Garpiya and Geran drones, the Russian variants of Iran’s Shahed-136, on North Korean territory. He warned that such developments “will for sure bring changes in the military balance in the region between North Korea and South Korea.”
Budanov emphasized that giving North Korea access to Shahed drones, which have long terrorized Ukraine with their range and persistence, would enable Pyongyang to strike targets across South Korea, potentially in overwhelming numbers. This could allow them to saturate air defense systems and follow up with additional missile or artillery strikes.
He also didn’t rule out the possibility that drones assembled in North Korea could later be shipped back to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine.
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Budanov revealed that the first batch of KN-23 short-range ballistic missiles (also known as Hwasong-11) that North Korea supplied to Russia had been largely ineffective. According to report sfrom Ukrainian prosecutors, around half of them veered off course or detonated midair, rendering them unreliable.
However, Budanov said that with Russian technical assistance, these missiles have been significantly upgraded and are now capable of striking with what he called “deadly accuracy.” This transformation has given Russia a much needed and consistent source of SRBMs (short-range ballistic missiles), bolstering its battlefield capability.
Budanov detailed the growing military partnership between North Korea and Russia, noting that Pyongyang has been supplying a wide range of weaponry – from older systems like 122mm D-74 howitzers and 107mm infantry MLRS to more powerful platforms such as the 240mm MLRS and the 170mm M1989 Koksan self-propelled guns.
He acknowledged that the M1989 is performing surprisingly well in combat: “It’s firing from quite a long range, and it’s quite good in terms of accuracy.”
When asked about the presence of North Korean personnel in Russia, Budanov said there are currently about 11,000 North Korean troops stationed in Kursk Oblast. However, he added that this presence may soon expand under the guise of civilian labor.
Following a visit by Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu to North Korea, Moscow agreed to allow so-called “labor migrants” from the DPRK to work in Russia – a move ostensibly aimed at replacing Central Asian workers, whom Russia now views as less stable and more susceptible to recruitment by Western or Ukrainian intelligence.
But Budanov warned that many of these laborers could end up signing contracts with the Russian Ministry of Defense:
“And it wouldn’t be the warriors from North Korea. It would be Russian warriors, but of North Korean nationality.”