North Korea Backs Iran Militarily
North Korea is signaling military ties with Iran and offering support amid Middle East pressure. A detailed thread analyzes how Saudi-Iran détente strains are creating petrodollar implications and multipolar shifts involving China, India, and Russia.
The military relationship between North Korea and Iran dates back to the 1980s during the Iran-Iraq War, when Pyongyang became a reliable arms supplier to Tehran. This transactional relationship saw North Korea provide conventional weapons and military assistance in exchange for much-needed foreign currency. This cooperation deepened in the 1990s and 2000s, focusing on ballistic missile technology. Iran's Shahab-3 medium-range ballistic missile, a key part of its arsenal, was developed based on North Korea's Nodong missile. This partnership was mutually beneficial, as Iran's test-launches provided valuable data for Pyongyang to advance its own missile programs. China has emerged as a significant diplomatic player in the region, notably brokering the restoration of diplomatic ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March 2023. Beijing has established Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships with both Iran and Saudi Arabia, positioning itself as a neutral mediator driven by its economic and strategic interests. Russia has also intensified its defense cooperation with Iran, particularly as both nations face Western sanctions. Iran has supplied Russia with military hardware, including Shahed 136 drones for use in Ukraine, while in turn looking to Moscow to modernize its own aging military equipment, such as aircraft and air defense systems. The détente between Saudi Arabia and Iran, though a landmark agreement, remains fragile. Tensions persist over regional influence and differing stances on issues like normalization with Israel. Recent escalations have seen Iran and its proxies launch attacks on Gulf states, threatening regional stability and the business models of countries like the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Amid renewed conflict, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has expressed strong support for Tehran, stating a readiness to provide missiles to Iran for use against Israel if requested. This declaration highlights the potential for the long-standing military-industrial link between the two nations to become more entrenched. The conflict could present a strategic opportunity for Pyongyang. With Iran potentially using more of its own arsenal, a supply gap for military hardware to Russia could emerge, which North Korea may be willing to fill, thereby deepening Moscow's reliance on them. This evolving landscape underscores a broader realignment, with nations like North Korea, Iran, Russia, and China strengthening ties. These partnerships challenge the traditional security architecture of the Middle East and present complex challenges for the United States and its allies.
