1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i North Korea-Russia Relations:Current Developments May 6,2024 Since 2023,North Korea(officially known as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea,or DPRK)and the Russian Federation(Russia)have upgraded their partnership,a d
2、evelopment that could potentially boost Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and increase North Koreas military capabilities and its willingness to engage in provocative actions against the United States and U.S.allies in East Asia.The Biden Administration in recent months has designated for sanct
3、ions North Korean individuals and entities conducting illicit cyber and crypto activities,weapons procurement and transfers(to Russia),and fuel trade that violates U.S.and United Nations Security Council(UNSC)restrictions.North Koreas contravention of these sanctions,with Russias assistance,challeng
4、es long-held U.S.policy,shaped and supported by several acts of Congress,aimed at persuading North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons in exchange for a potential loosening of sanctions.Strengthened North Korea-Russia bilateral ties potentially embolden North Korea to expand illicit activities and