Russia promotes its fighters in DPRK

A North Korean delegation led by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un visited a Russian aircraft factory in Komsomolsk-on-Amur.

This is reported by Russian propaganda media.

At the aircraft factory, a group from the political and military leadership of the DPRK examined the engineering center and production facilities of the enterprise. The Su-35 and Su-57 fighters produced there were also demonstrated to them in detail.

The trip of promising Korean “partners” of the Russian Federation was definitely not accidental, but had a specific goal. The most likely one is the demonstration of military products to potential customers.

Currently, DPRK aviation is going through difficult times. At one time, in the late 1980s, due to good relations with the Soviet Union, the country received modern MiG-29 fighters of the 9.13 version, which were not officially exported due to secrecy.

The country currently operates several dozen MiG-29. Interestingly, there are presumably no R-27 intermediate-range air missiles in service with the North Korean Air Force. In all the photos, they are armed only with R-73 missiles.

In addition, North Korea has up to three hundred tactical aircraft, but all of it consists of old worn-out jets such as Su-7, MiG-15, MiG-17, MiG-21 and MiG-23ML. Most of them no longer take-off and, presumably, are not operational.

Accordingly, the DPRK has long been in a very vulnerable position before its counterpart – South Korea, which has ultra-modern fighter aircraft, including 40 F-35A fighters, more than a hundred F-16 C/D and about 60 F-15K fighters. The country is interested in updating the fighter fleet, but until recently it has not had the opportunity to purchase new aircraft due to international sanctions.

Therefore, linking the trip of the North Korean delegation to the aviation plant, a similar Russian delegation at the defense enterprises of the DPRK, and rumors about a possible agreement on the supply of weapons to the Russian Federation, it can be assumed that Russia plans to pay for it with its own aircraft.

We have already seen a similar deal when, in exchange for strike drones, ammunition and a number of other weapons, Russia offered Iran Su-35 fighters. The eastern country, due to sanctions, had similar problems and exploited outdated and worn-out MiG-29 and F-14 Tomcat.

A statement on Russia’s refusal to sanction North Korea recently made by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation indirectly confirms the version with the purchase of aircraft. The sanctions limit any military and technical cooperation with the country.

In case of modern Russian fighters being supplied to the North Korean military, the balance of power in the region will be affected and the level of tension will increase.