South Korea Calls Russia Giving Anti-aircraft Missiles To North Korea Troop Deployment Rewards

South Korea's national security adviser Shin Won-sik said Russia provided North Korea with anti-aircraft missiles and air defense equipment in exchange for sending troops to support Moscow in its war against Ukraine.

In an interview with South Korean television station SBS broadcast on Friday, November 22, Shin said Russia provided economic and military technology support to North Korea.

"It can be understood that North Korea has been equipped with related equipment and anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen Pyongyang's weak air defense system," Shin said.

Pyongyang also appears to have been given military technology by Russia to support its satellite program following its failed attempt to launch a spy satellite earlier this year.

South Korean lawmakers said this week, some 10,900 North Korean troops had been deployed to Kursk as part of Russia's air and sea units to confront Ukrainian forces.

Some of these units have participated in the fighting, lawmakers quoted explanations from South Korean intelligence agents as saying.