In exchange for North Korean artillery ammunition and other weapons for the war in Ukraine, Russia may provide Pyongyang with technical assistance in developing nuclear weapons and long-range missiles. This was stated by US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell in Washington at an event of the Council on Foreign Relations think tank, Reuters reports, UNN reports.
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There are ongoing discussions about what North Korea is getting in return, and it may be related to its nuclear program, long-range missile development, energy projects, etc
According to him, since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has strengthened military cooperation with Iran, North Korea, and China, which support Russia's military-industrial base, but the latter may be concerned about Moscow's deepening ties with Pyongyang.
I think it's fair to say that China is somewhat concerned about what's going on between Russia and North Korea. They have pointed this out in some of our interactions and we see some tension related to these things (the rapid rapprochement between Russia and North Korea - ed.)
Campbell clarified that the Chinese side's concern is largely related to the fact that Moscow could push Pyongyang to take provocative steps, such as shelling South Korea, which would lead to a crisis in Northeast Asia and which Beijing would not want to see.