Asia Defense Security East Asia
Legal Barriers to the North Korea-Russia Arms Trade and the Loophole That Could Allow it to Expand
Thu Sep 7 2023 - 1110
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un inspected five major munitions factories within a single week last month, calling on engineers and officials to increase production of artillery shells, missiles, and other weapons.
North Korea's leader also attended a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin as part of a weeklong trip to Russia's Far East that apparently focused on weapons exchanges and other cooperation.
Now, North Korea's munitions factories are operating at full capacity to produce weapons and shells for Russia, according to South Korea's defense minister, as Moscow's invasion of Ukraine continues to deplete its own stockpiles.
The US has grown increasingly alarmed by the possibility of an expanding weapons trade between North Korea and Russia at a potentially pivotal moment in the war in Ukraine.
The US has warned North Korea and Russia that such a trade would violate UN Security Council resolutions and could lead to further sanctions.
However, there is a loophole in the UN Security Council resolutions that could allow the arms trade to continue: the resolutions do not explicitly prohibit the sale of weapons between North Korea and Russia.
This loophole could allow North Korea to continue to supply Russia with weapons, even if the US and its allies impose new sanctions on both countries.
The US and its allies are considering closing this loophole, but it is unclear if they will be able to reach an agreement on how to do so.
In the meantime, the US is urging North Korea and Russia to stop the arms trade, warning that it could have serious consequences for both countries.
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