Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on September 28 that Russia has transferred knowledge of jet-powered unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology to North Korea, according to Kyodo News.
According to Zelenskyy, this type of UAV has caused significant damage in Ukraine in recent times. Russia's sharing of the technology with North Korea has raised concerns that the capability could in the future be used against Japan and other East Asian countries.
The remarks came as Ukraine continues to face UAV attacks in its conflict with Russia, with jet-powered drone models seen as a new threat due to their greater speed and penetrating power compared with conventional propeller-driven UAVs.
There has been no response yet from Russia or North Korea. Regional analysts say that if the technology is indeed transferred, the security balance in Northeast Asia could come under further pressure, while Japan and its neighbors will have to consider appropriate countermeasures.
