**North Korea’s Growing Military Might: Ukraine Intelligence Chief Reveals Russian Cooperation**
In a recent interview, Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), revealed that North Korea is already using Russia’s Pantsir S-1 air defense systems in Pyongyang. This development marks another significant step in the growing military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang.
According to Budanov, the arrival of Pantsir missiles in North Korea demonstrates the country’s improving weapons technology and military might through cooperation with Russia. The two nations signed a defense treaty in June 2024, which has led to North Korea supplying arms and troops to Moscow in exchange for training and advanced military technology.
**Russian Technology Transfers Fuel North Korean Military Growth**
The Pantsir S-1 is an air defense system used by Russia to guard its military-industrial facilities. The estimated price tag of the system is around $15 million. Budanov’s comments suggest that North Korea is benefiting from Russia’s ongoing technology transfers and combat experience gained while fighting against Ukraine.
Furthermore, Ukraine expects a significant increase in the number of North Korean citizens residing in Russia. Some of these individuals will reportedly sign up for the Russian military, making it seem less like an official transfer of personnel and more like voluntary registration.
**Russia’s Military Alliance with North Korea Deepens**
The deepening military alliance between Moscow and Pyongyang is evident in various areas. Russia has provided North Korea with advanced electronic warfare systems, helped build modern warships, and improved its KN-23 ballistic missiles. In June, Budanov said that Moscow agreed to assist Pyongyang in mass-producing Shahed-type attack drones.
**Recent Developments on the Ukrainian Front**
On July 1, a Russian missile attack killed the commander of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Serhii Zakharevych, and injured 30 people in Huliaipole in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as significantly hampering Russia’s ability to plan and conduct operations in the Pokrovsk and Toretsk areas.
**Ukraine Strengthens Its Economy**
In other news, Ukraine boosted electricity exports by 150% in June 2025 compared to the previous month. According to consulting firm ExPro Electricity, over 237,000 megawatt-hours (MWh) of electricity were exported.
**International Support for Ukraine**
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) provided Ukraine with approximately $500 million from its Extended Fund Facility program. This marks the ninth tranche under this program.
**Ukraine Looks to Norway and Other Allies for Nuclear Safety and Security Cooperation**
In an interview, Oleksiy Sorokin spoke with Eivind Vad Petersson, state secretary to the Norwegian foreign minister and co-chair of the joint Norwegian-Ukrainian Working Group on Nuclear Safety and Security. The discussion highlighted Ukraine’s efforts to strengthen its nuclear safety and security capabilities.
**Ukraine Aims to Establish Tribunal for Russian War Crimes**
The country is working towards establishing a tribunal specifically targeting Russia’s top political and military leadership for the crime of aggression, defined as the illegal use of force by one state against another.
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