Kim Pushes for Faster North Korean Defense Buildup With Russia’s Help

Kim Jong Un is interested in “overtaking the world,” according to his speech at the Second Plenum of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, which was held from June 20 to 22. Some may be inclined to dismiss this as more hyperbole from Pyongyang, but Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo should not miss North Korea’s tangible efforts to strengthen its military with Russia’s help. 

Kim Seeks Increased Defense Capabilities

Kim directed his regime to take steps related to North Korea’s navy, military bases, and munitions production. Kim ordered the acceleration of the design and construction of a new 10,000-ton guided missile cruiser, which would be the largest warship North Korea has constructed. It would be around twice the size of the recently launched Choe Hyon (51) guided-missile destroyer, which displaces around 5,000 tons. Two of these destroyers, which have significantly more long-range firepower than other North Korean ships, have been launched. One is currently undergoing sea trials and the other was commissioned on June 23, underscoring North Korea’s commitment to rapidly improving its naval capacity and capability.  

Kim also tasked the government with completing the ongoing southern border fortification project and building new military bases. North Korea has already renovated several airbases across the country in recent years, demonstrating that the military buildup is occurring across multiple warfighting domains.

Lastly, he tasked officials to develop detailed plans for “building or modernizing” the North Korean defense industrial base’s munition production capabilities, perhaps in part because some of its stockpiles are depleted after sending considerable military aid to Russia.

Pyongyang’s Expanding Cooperation With Moscow

North Korea’s military buildup comes as Kim has bolstered ties with Russia, especially since 2022. The relationship grew significantly after Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine in February of that year. Kim sent cannon and rocket artillery pieces, millions of cannon and rocket artillery ammunition, ballistic missiles, and even ground troops to Russia. Many are aware of those contributions to Putin’s aggression, but are less aware of how Putin has reciprocated, as detailed in a new Foundation for Defense of Democracies book, Axis of Aggressors. Russia is providing advanced technologies to North Korea, which risks eroding U.S., South Korean, and Japanese military advantages in the region.

Reports strongly suggest that Russia has assisted North Korea with submarine propulsion and quieting technology, air defense equipment (such as an air defense system seen on a North Korean destroyer that strongly resembles a Pantsir-M), and electronic warfare systems. Furthermore, North Korean troops who fought Ukraine have returned from the front lines with enhanced warfighting tactics, techniques, and procedures, which they can teach to the rest of the North Korean military. Perhaps the most tangible result of Russia-North Korea cooperation is the increase in accuracy and survivability of North Korea’s KN-23 short-range ballistic missile. Pyongyang initially sent the missiles to Moscow for use against Ukraine, which the Kremlin improved and then shared the improvements with North Korea, demonstrating how benefits flow both directions in the relationship.

Washington Must Lead Urgent Steps

In addition to supporting efforts to build South Korean military capability, the best way to deter aggression from Pyongyang is to deepen U.S.-Japan-South Korea trilateral security cooperation and maintain a robust U.S. military force posture in South Korea, signaling Washington’s political will and military capability to punish and defeat aggression. 

President Donald Trump should convene without delay a summit with his Japanese and South Korean counterparts to highlight and strengthen efforts to deepen trilateral security cooperation, building on the successful 2023 summit. Those efforts should include regular trilateral military exercises that include not just naval and air assets but also ground forces and integrated command structures. This effort should also produce a new trilateral strategy to deter North Korean aggression and counter the dangerous partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow. 

Congress should also oppose any administration efforts to materially reduce U.S. military posture on the peninsula and should require reports on Russia-North Korea security cooperation and whether U.S. military capabilities and war plans on the peninsula account for growing North Korean capabilities.

Logan Rolleigh is a research assistant at the Center on Military and Political Power (CMPP) at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), where Ryan Brobst is the deputy director and Bradley Bowman is senior director. For more analysis from the authors and FDD, please subscribe HERE. Follow FDD on X @FDD. FDD is a Washington, DC-based, nonpartisan research institute focusing on national security and foreign policy.