A Russian Bank Account May Offer Clues to a North Korean Arms Deal

Russia has released millions of dollars in frozen North Korean assets, potentially helping the isolated country gain access to international banking networks. This assistance comes after North Korea transferred weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, according to intelligence officials. The White House has previously claimed that North Korea provided ballistic missiles to Russia and that the North was seeking military hardware in return. It remains unclear whether Russia has given North Korea the military technology it desires, but the new banking ties suggest an advancing relationship between the two countries. The officials also revealed that a North Korean front company has recently opened an account in a Russian bank, potentially bypassing UN sanctions that restrict banking with North Korea.