U.S. Army 8th Theater Sustainment Command, National Security Law Team
North Korea’s increasing military support for Russia, including arms shipments and deployment of 10,000 troops for Moscow’s illegal war against Ukraine, raises significant strategic and legal concerns for the Indo-Pacific. It signals a deepening alliance between two authoritarian regimes seeking to counter the influence of the United States and its Allies and Partners and has far-reaching implications for regional security.
To counter this development, Indo-Pacific nations must enhance regional cooperation. Strengthening partnerships such as the Quad grouping of Australia, India, Japan and the U.S., and bolstering ties with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) could deter North Korean aggression. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to isolate Russia and North Korea should be coupled with continued targeted sanctions to limit their military collaboration.
North Korea’s military backing of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine brought swift rebukes globally. Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) leading industrial nations and three key allies expressed “grave concerns” about North Korea’s military deployment in Russia and are developing a coordinated response, the nations said in a November 2024 statement. It was signed by G7 members Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the U.S. and the European Union, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. Earlier, Japan and South Korea expressed grave concern and agreed to collaborate to curb the Russia-North Korea ties, and NATO allies including Canada and the U.S. strongly condemned the increasing military collaboration, saying the troop deployments violate United Nations Security Council resolutions.
North Korea-Russia collaboration serves the regimes’ mutual interests, aiding Moscow’s war machine while solidifying North Korea’s ties with a nuclear-armed ally. The relationship offers Pyongyang leverage in its dealings with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Russia as the isolated nation seeks to bolster its position against alliances in the Indo-Pacific.
Arms transfers from North Korea help Russia sustain a war now in its third year. The influx of inexperienced North Korean troops adds to the ranks of Russian mercenaries, convicts and poor rural conscripts that shield middle-class Russian households from the staggering troop losses in Ukraine.
In return, North Korea could gain access to Russian military technology, potentially accelerating its missile and nuclear programs, in addition to receiving food and fuel. This dynamic poses a direct threat to stability in the Indo-Pacific, where North Korea’s provocations, such as missile tests over Japan and escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, are already a persistent challenge.
The implications for Indo-Pacific security are profound. An emboldened North Korea, backed by Russia, may act more aggressively, increasing the risk of conflict in hot spots such as the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. This could prompt stronger military responses from regional powers, including enhanced defense coordination among Japan, South Korea and the U.S.
North Korea-Russia cooperation, solidified with a mutual defense pact in October 2024, could also destabilize Southeast Asia, where nations such as the Philippines and Vietnam might face increased pressure in their territorial disputes with the PRC, an ally of North Korea and Russia. North Korea’s actions violate multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting its export of arms. By accepting these shipments, Russia breaches the same resolutions, undermining the international sanctions regime. This poses a significant legal challenge for the U.N., particularly as Russia uses its veto power as a permanent Security Council member to block further sanctions or investigations.
Furthermore, Russia’s use of North Korea-supplied weapons to target civilian populations and infrastructure in Ukraine constitutes war crimes and violates the Geneva Conventions. The indiscriminate nature of these attacks and other Russian actions against Ukraine directly breaches the principles of distinction, proportionality, necessity and humanity in the law of armed conflict. By providing troops and munitions, North Korea is a crucial backer of Russia’s unlawful invasion and occupation of Ukraine’s territory.
Ultimately, North Korea’s military support for Russia not only escalates the Ukraine conflict but also increases the likelihood of instability in the Indo-Pacific. A continued coordinated international response is crucial to safeguard regional security and uphold international law.
