How North Korea has been arming Palestinian militants for decades

Pyongyang's sole focus on survival virtually ensures North Korean weapons will continue to be found in the hands of those bent on Israel’s destruction

Benjamin R. Young June 25, 2014

How North Korea has been arming Palestinian militants for decades

Image: De Pyongyang a La Habana

Pyongyang has fewer foreign embassies than many other capitals, but the DPRK’s showcase city is home to one that even Washington lacks: Palestine.

Since the early 1960s, North Korea has staunchly supported the establishment of a Palestinian state. From training Palestinian militants in the 1970s, to helping Hezbollah build underground tunnels into Israel in the mid-2000s, North Korea has maintained an active presence in the Middle East.

About the Author

Benjamin R. Young

Benjamin R. Young is an Assistant Professor of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness at VCU (Virginia Commonwealth University). He is the author of Guns, Guerillas, and the Great Leader: North Korea and the Third World (Stanford University Press, 2021). He received his Ph.D. from The George Washington University in 2018. He has previously taught at the U.S. Naval War College and Dakota State University. He has published peer-reviewed articles on North Korean history and politics in a number of scholarly journals and is a regular contributor to NK News.

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