Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Sunday that Ukraine believes Russia has transferred jet-drone technology to North Korea.

Reuters reported that Russia has increased its use of jet-powered drones against Ukraine. Their higher speed has made them more difficult for Ukrainian forces to intercept than propeller-driven systems.

Claim has not been independently verified

Zelenskiy did not publicly provide evidence supporting the allegation, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the claim. Russia and North Korea had not issued responses in the report.

North Korea has previously supplied Russia with artillery shells and ballistic missiles used in the war against Ukraine. Thousands of North Korean troops have also reportedly been sent to Russia and gained combat experience.

Concerns over military cooperation

South Korea and Western governments have warned that Moscow could support North Korean weapons development in exchange for military assistance. A transfer involving jet-powered drone systems would deepen those concerns across Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

Tensions between Kyiv and Seoul have also risen after Ukraine transferred two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Zelenskiy defended the transfer by pointing to South Korean law, which treats North Koreans as citizens, while South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said a confidentiality agreement had been breached and demanded an apology.

Source: Reuters, October 4.

Lead image: flag of North Korea from Wikimedia Commons; not a photograph of the alleged technology transfer.