It’s no secret that North Korea is a deeply isolated country, cut off from most of the world and subjected to stringent international sanctions. That’s why it may come as a surprise that a recent report from Conflict Armament Research (CAR) revealed that a ballistic missile fired by North Korea into Ukraine contained a significant number of electronic components sourced from the U.S. and Europe.
According to the report, approximately 75% of the 290 components analyzed in the missile originated from U.S.-based companies, and 16% came from European firms. This discovery raises questions about how North Korea was able to acquire such components, as the country is under strict sanctions from most of the international community. It’s possible that other foreign companies acted as middlemen, buying the components and then diverting them to North Korea.
However, the fact that North Korea was able to gather these components, assemble a missile, and ship it to Russia all within a relatively short time suggests that the country has developed a sophisticated acquisition network capable of circumventing sanctions.
This is a cause for concern, as it indicates that North Korea can obtain sensitive American technology despite efforts to prevent it.
The electronic components were mainly utilized in the missile’s navigation system, indicating that North Korea is actively advancing its ballistic missile capabilities. These findings are reminiscent of a previous CAR report that revealed U.S. electronic components in Iranian missiles used by Russia.
It seems that Russia, facing its own set of sanctions, has turned to countries like North Korea and Iran for military aid.
The implications of these findings are significant, not only for the U.S. but for the international community as a whole.
The U.S. has long been committed to preventing its sensitive technology from being used for military purposes by foreign adversaries. But as this report shows, more needs to be done to strengthen export and sanction controls to prevent such acquisitions from occurring in the future.
The White House National Security Council (NSC) has acknowledged and expressed concern about these developments, stating that Russia’s increasing isolation on the world stage has forced them to turn to “like-minded states” for military equipment. The NSC has also emphasized the need for continued efforts to prevent the proliferation of American technology to countries like North Korea and Iran.
A @conflictarm field investigation team recently documented the electronic components of a North Korean ballistic missile recovered in Ukraine on 2 January 2024. CAR investigators documented over 290 components, mostly found in the missile’s navigation system.🧵 (1/6) pic.twitter.com/WxsedC18K6
— CAR (@conflictarm) February 20, 2024
