The North Korean ballistic missile launched by Russia toward Ukraine contained numerous electronic components supplied by the United States and Europe, according to a new report from the Conflict Arms Investigation (CAR), a UK-based research organization. It is said to have been included.
According to the CAR report, about 75 percent of the 290 parts analyzed on the missile were made by U.S.-based companies, and an additional 16 percent were made by European companies. The U.S. government aims to prevent sensitive U.S. intellectual property from falling into the hands of foreign adversaries through several mechanisms, including sanctions and law enforcement. (Related: Russia uses North Korean missiles in full-scale attack on Ukraine, White House announces)
CAR documents “documenting weapons at the point of use and tracing their origins through the supply chain.”
According to the report, the fact that North Korea was able to obtain so many U.S.-made electronic components “provides the country with a solid foundation that allows it to evade the sanctions regime that has been in place for nearly 20 years without detection.” This suggests that the company has built a network to obtain the products. .
a @conflictarm A field investigation team recently documented electronic components of a North Korean ballistic missile recovered in Ukraine on January 2, 2024. CAR investigators documented more than 290 parts of him, most of which were found in the missile's navigation system. 🧵 (1/6) pic.twitter.com/WxsedC18K6
— CAR (@conflictarm) February 20, 2024
According to the report, the electronic components imported from a total of 26 countries were mainly used in the missile's navigation system. It is unclear how the parts ended up in North Korea's hands, as North Korea is heavily sanctioned by most of the international community, but other foreign companies acted as intermediaries to buy the parts, which were then transferred to communist parties. It is possible that the information was passed on to someone else. Country.
The report said North Korea collected the parts, assembled the missile and shipped it to Russia, all in a relatively short period of time. The missile was recovered by CAR on January 2, and investigators determined it could not have been manufactured before March 2023.
Russia has turned to countries such as North Korea and Iran for help as it faces international sanctions and spends hundreds of billions of dollars on military equipment in its stalled battle with Ukraine. North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin have strengthened ties since Russia first invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said, “Export and sanctions restrictions have left Russia increasingly isolated on the world stage, leaving it vulnerable to like-minded countries when it comes to military equipment.'' We have no choice but to rely on them,” he said. he said at a press conference in January. “One of those countries is North Korea.”
The United States is trying to prevent American electronic equipment from being leaked to foreign adversaries for military purposes. CAR previously found that Iranian missiles launched by Russia also contained large amounts of American electronic components.
The White House NSC did not respond to requests for comment.
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